Translation from German by Robert Hutwohl
With Franz Hartmann, another witness of the early days of the “Theosophical Society” has passed away; he belonged to the small circle of those around H. P. Blavatsky.
What we German followers of theosophy owe to the departed will be briefly outlined here as a sign of remembrance and gratitude.
Franz Hartmann conveyed H. P. Blavatsky’s message to us when, coming from India, he began publishing his “Lotusblüten” in Hallein (Austria) in 1890. Starting with the “Book of the Golden Teachings,” the “Voice of Silence,” etc., over the course of ten years he made us familiar with a large part of theosophical literature. He called the Lotusblüten “a bimonthly journal containing original articles and selected translations from oriental literature relating to the religions of the East, occult science, mysticism and theosophy.” And Franz Hartmann did not promise too much in this program; in this magazine he brought a sheer inexhaustible wealth of wisdom teachings from all times and all sages closer to our understanding. To name just a few of them, we should first mention the “Bhagavad-Gita,” which he published in two different editions, a Sanskrit translation with corresponding passages from German mystics and a brilliant poetic translation from English by Edwin Arnold. He gave us much from the works of Sankaracarya, Lao-tse, Meister Eckhart, Paracelsus, Thomas Kempis, Silesius, Kerning, Mabel Collins. In addition to many of his own essays on the Secret Doctrine and on theosophical work, he published many translations from English. His own “Memorable Recollections” of his life must not go unmentioned. Many of his earlier works, which he had written in English, appeared in a new German guise.
For seven years, until 1908, his pen rested, but he continued to strive to continue theosophical work through lectures in Germany, England and America.
From January 1908 onwards, the “Neue Lotusblüten” appeared every other month in double issues, as a continuation of the old ones, up to issues 7—8 (July and August 1912). — On August 7, 1912, Franz Hartmann was allowed to lay aside his physical body, which had become quite a burden to him in recent years, in his birthplace Kempten in Bavaria.
This brief outline of Franz Hartmann’s activities shows us how tirelessly he worked for the theosophical movement. He fought tirelessly for tolerance and open-mindedness, the two most important demands for those striving for theosophy. Hartmann was not among those who condemned Judge, nor did he presume to decide which of the various theosophical movements had the only “genuine ring.” In public, Hartmann was completely unpretentious, whether in word or writing; his refreshing coarseness may have been no small test of the open-mindedness of some of his followers, who looked to him as a saint. He did not want to be a “leader,” we should learn to go our own way without relying on a “superior” personality, we should learn to look for our spiritual guide within ourselves. Hartmann always emphasized this.
To complete his picture, his psychic and occult qualities should also be mentioned. It is easy to see from his “Memorable Memoirs” that he possessed such qualities, and he reported on his “occult healings” in the 1911 issue of the “Zeitschrift für Okkultismus.” Schreiber himself experienced one of these healings first hand.
A great man who chose the path of renunciation has left us; the major daily newspapers will hardly mention him, or only briefly; perhaps the next generation will record that with Franz Hartmann a great German mystic has passed away.
But for us who met Hartmann on our path through life, for all those to whom he brought a new, blissful worldview, he will remain unforgettable!
Notes:
[1] Obituary. On the Death of Dr. Franz Hartmann [Zum tode Dr. Franz Hartmanns. F. Wolff. Theosophisches Leben XV, no. 7 (October 1912), 194-196 [{This article was reformatted from the original, but with the content unchanged other than minor typos, by Robert Hutwohl, ©2025}]
[2] See also “From the Movement” in this issue about Dr. Hartmann.