There are those who denigrate him by
scoffing at his beliefs and supposed delusional ideas but all this
should be balanced by his tremendous bravery, courage and his
discoveries during his African period.
Of all the people concerned with the
later Victorian Occult revival Felkin is ranked alongside of the
greatest of them all. Westcott, Woodman, Woodford, Yeats (the poet),
Mathers, A.E.Waite and so on. Books on the Golden Dawn have scattered
reference to him throughout, yet little attempt has been made to produce
in any form some tangible recognition of his talents. His Life's
work is in desperate need of a good biography.
His medical work in Africa and the
U.K. as well as New Zealand is largely ignored. Even in Havelock
North his contemporaries have streets named after them , however
no civic recognition is evident, despite his Herculean efforts during
the great Flu epidemic 1918-1919. when none of his patients died.
His sojourns in Africa led to health
difficulties for which he was prescribed by a fellow doctor a glass of
whiskey each evening to help alleviate his symptoms which found in time,
on his own admission, difficult to control.
As chief Adept his role was limited as
there was only one college Christchurch and it was in recess, even
though he did attempt to revive it , without success.
Yet he was a pioneer of spiritual
things to these shores and laid the foundations and secured a legacy of
which we enjoy today.
In my research I could find no
obituary in the Society's records of his passing . It was as if he
had suddenly ceased to exist.
I can only surmise that owing to
failing health he found it necessary to resign as Chief Adept in
December, shortly before his death on December 28th 1926 and hence fell
between the cracks.
Some attempt has been made in the 2nd
Edition of the history of the S.R.I.A. to recognise him as a
'Distinguished Frater' of the Society and there is a further
comment that 'as a prime creator and preserver of Rosicrucianism in New
Zealand Dr. Felkin deserves better than this' . With that
observation I would agree.
I like to feel that this College is a
living tribute to his memory and work.
APPENDIX ONE
Known list of papers given at college
meetings or at Study Grou of Metropolitan college.
-
Occult Experiences in
Africa - September 1912 - Study Group
-
Folklore in Central
Africa - July 1914 - College
-
The Rosicrucian Society
in Europe- 14th February 1916 - Study Group
-
Veils of Negative
Existence -1916 - Never published - College
-
Valedictory Address
-13th April 1916 - Rosicrucian Medicine - given after
resigning as Celebrant-college
-
Psychic Experiences in
Egypt - Given ?? - study group
Notes:- The Rosicrucian Society
in Europe copies exist in photocopy form
Rosicrucian Medicine is No.18 in the series of booklets by the
Society's Metropolitan College transactions
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