Wellesley Tudor Pole
Encyclopedia
Major Wellesley Tudor Pole O.B.E. (23 April 1884 – 13 September 1968) was a spiritualist
and early British Bahá'í
.
He authored many pamphlets and books and was a lifelong pursuer of religious and mystical questions and visions, being particularly involved with spiritualism
and the Bahá'í Faith
as well as the quest for the Holy Grail
of Arthurian Legend.
in Tiverton in Devon
and at the age of 20 became managing director of the family firm involved in marketing grains and cereals and also became involved in adventures to find the Holy Grail
. He pursued investigations in the Middle East. On a visit to Constantinople prior to the Young Turk Revolution
in 1908 he heard of `Abdu'l-Bahá
head of the Bahá'í Faith
and met and interviewed him over 9 days in late November of 1910 in Cairo and Alexandria.
For the next several decades he was active in the Bahá'í Faith as well as other interests. When `Abdu'l-Bahá travelled to the West, Tudor Pole spoke the English translation of his first talk on the evening of 10 September 1911. In 1912 he married Florence Snelling, with whom he had three children over the next nine years.
During World War I
, Tudor Pole served in the Directorate of Military Intelligence
in the Middle East and was directly involved in addressing the concerns raised by the Ottoman threats against `Abdu'l-Bahá which ultimately required General Allenby altering his plans for the prosecution of the war in the Palestine theatre. After the War, Tudor Pole began his writing career with Private Dowding which dealt with a soldier and his afterlife
, and instituted The Silent Minute (in collaboration with Sir Winston Churchill
), which united the British people each evening at 9 p.m. at the chiming of Big Ben on the radio. Then came The Lamplighter Movement. These led to the Remembrance Day
observance. In 1921, while Tudor Pole was Secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly in London, the telegram announcing the death of `Abdu'l-Bahá by his sister, Bahíyyih Khánum
, arrived at Tudor Pole's home in London and it was there read by Shoghi Effendi
.
In 1922 he began a long association with a project aimed at relieving the oppression the Bolsheviks on religionists in Russia. (See also Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan
.) Returning to his searches through the Middle East, Tudor Pole aided in the modern day identification of the site of the ancient Boukoleon Palace, also known as the House of Justinian. Following Shoghi Effendi's leadership of the Bahá'í Faith, and the change in style and priorities of the leadership of the religion, Tudor Pole could not leave behind his spiritualist involvements and his involvement in the religion ebbed. In 1959 Tudor Pole founded a group preserving the Chalice Well
and Bride's Mound of Glastonbury
, England.
Tudor Pole wrote several books investigating spiritualist approaches to faith and the meaning of the times until his death in 1968. Works relating to him continued to be published after his death.
: memories and observations mentions his close friendship with and actions on behalf of Tudor Pole. A biography The Two Worlds of Wellesley Tudor Pole by Gerry Fenge is being published on the internet and covers 1884 to 1931.
By Brinsley le Poer Trench
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
and early British Bahá'í
Bahá'í Faith in the United Kingdom
The Bahá'í Faith in the United Kingdom started in 1898 when Mrs. Mary Thornburgh-Cropper , an American by birth, become the first Bahá'í in England. Through the 1930s, the number of Bahá'ís in the United Kingdom grew, leading to a pioneer movement beginning after the Second World War with sixty...
.
He authored many pamphlets and books and was a lifelong pursuer of religious and mystical questions and visions, being particularly involved with spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
and the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
as well as the quest for the Holy Grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
of Arthurian Legend.
Personal history and events of note
Born in 1884, he was educated at Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
in Tiverton in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and at the age of 20 became managing director of the family firm involved in marketing grains and cereals and also became involved in adventures to find the Holy Grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
. He pursued investigations in the Middle East. On a visit to Constantinople prior to the Young Turk Revolution
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
in 1908 he heard of `Abdu'l-Bahá
`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
head of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
and met and interviewed him over 9 days in late November of 1910 in Cairo and Alexandria.
For the next several decades he was active in the Bahá'í Faith as well as other interests. When `Abdu'l-Bahá travelled to the West, Tudor Pole spoke the English translation of his first talk on the evening of 10 September 1911. In 1912 he married Florence Snelling, with whom he had three children over the next nine years.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Tudor Pole served in the Directorate of Military Intelligence
Directorate of Military Intelligence
The Directorate of Military Intelligence was a department of the British War Office.Over its lifetime the Directorate underwent a number of organisational changes, absorbing and shedding sections over time.- History :...
in the Middle East and was directly involved in addressing the concerns raised by the Ottoman threats against `Abdu'l-Bahá which ultimately required General Allenby altering his plans for the prosecution of the war in the Palestine theatre. After the War, Tudor Pole began his writing career with Private Dowding which dealt with a soldier and his afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
, and instituted The Silent Minute (in collaboration with Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
), which united the British people each evening at 9 p.m. at the chiming of Big Ben on the radio. Then came The Lamplighter Movement. These led to the Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
observance. In 1921, while Tudor Pole was Secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly in London, the telegram announcing the death of `Abdu'l-Bahá by his sister, Bahíyyih Khánum
Bahiyyih Khánum
Bahíyyih Khánum the only daughter of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and Ásíyih Khánum. She was born in 1846 with the given name Fatimih Sultan, and was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greatest Holy Leaf"...
, arrived at Tudor Pole's home in London and it was there read by Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
.
In 1922 he began a long association with a project aimed at relieving the oppression the Bolsheviks on religionists in Russia. (See also Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan
Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan
The Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan begins before Russian advances into the region when the area was under the influence of Persia. By 1887 a community of Bahá'í refugees from religious violence in Persia had made a religious center in Ashgabat. Shortly afterwards — by 1894 — Russia made...
.) Returning to his searches through the Middle East, Tudor Pole aided in the modern day identification of the site of the ancient Boukoleon Palace, also known as the House of Justinian. Following Shoghi Effendi's leadership of the Bahá'í Faith, and the change in style and priorities of the leadership of the religion, Tudor Pole could not leave behind his spiritualist involvements and his involvement in the religion ebbed. In 1959 Tudor Pole founded a group preserving the Chalice Well
Chalice Well
Chalice Well is a holy well situated at the foot of Glastonbury Tor in the county of Somerset, England. The natural spring and surrounding gardens are owned and managed by the Chalice Well Trust , founded by Wellesley Tudor Pole in 1959.Archaeological evidence suggests that the well has been in...
and Bride's Mound of Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
, England.
Tudor Pole wrote several books investigating spiritualist approaches to faith and the meaning of the times until his death in 1968. Works relating to him continued to be published after his death.
Writings
- Private Dowding -The personal story of a soldier killed in battle was first published in August 1917, and then through six editions by 1966. In it Tudor Pole presents the case that war, and the Great War in particular, are spiritually driven events geared to prove the impotence of materialismMaterialismIn philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
. The book also tells of the conditions of life after deathLife After DeathLife After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released March 25, 1997 on Bad Boy Records. A double album, it was released posthumously following his death on March 9, 1997 and serves as his final studio album...
. - Abdu'l-Baha Abbas and the Baha'i Faith in Light (London) 70 (Dec. 1950): pp. 347-51.
- Recollection of a Healing Incident: Sequel to 'Abdu'l-Baha Abbas and the Baha'i Faith in Light (London) 71 (Feb. 1951): pp. 398-400.
- Michael: Prince of Heaven, Captain of the Angelic Hosts (Pamphlet) by Robert Morton Nance; Howard Jewell; Wellesley Tudor Pole; Margaret Thornley Segal; Frank Retallack; Robert Morton Nance and Neville Coventry, Publisher: J.M. Watkins - 1951, ISBN B000EGLX5Q
- The Upper Room with Commentary is about a mystic experience of visiting the Upper RoomCenacleThe Cenacle , also known as the "Upper Room", is the term used for the site of The Last Supper. The word is a derivative of the Latin word cena, which means dinner....
of Christian reference. - The Silent Road Published in London by Neville Spearman, 1960.
- A Man Seen Afar Written with Rosamond LehmannRosamond LehmannRosamond Nina Lehmann, CBE , was a British novelist. Her first novel, Dusty Answer , was a succès de scandale; she subsequently became established in the literary world and intimate with members of the Bloomsbury set...
in 1965, it retells events in the life of Jesus Christ pondering the importance of everyday experiences he may have had inspired by a conversation in 1917 between Tudor Pole and another British officer about World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and its probable aftermath on the eve of a battle. In places it amplifies and elsewhere contradicts the GospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
accounts but is written to produce a kind of shock, as of fuller recognition of the events and import of the life of Jesus.
- The Messenger of Chalice Well is a newsletter Tudor Pole began publishing around 1967.
- Writing On The Ground a sequel to A Man seen Afar written in 1968, the year of his death.
- My Dear Alexias which is a compilation of letters Tudor Pole sent to Rosamond LehmannRosamond LehmannRosamond Nina Lehmann, CBE , was a British novelist. Her first novel, Dusty Answer , was a succès de scandale; she subsequently became established in the literary world and intimate with members of the Bloomsbury set...
she published in 1979.
Mentioned in other books
Some of his contributions to history and humanity are referenced in The Story of the Divine Plan - Taking place during and immediately following World War I and is mentioned extensively in The Servant, the General and Armageddon (ISBN 0853984247). Sir George TrevelyanSir George Trevelyan, 4th Baronet
Sir George Lowthian Trevelyan 4th Baronet, , an educational pioneer, a founding father of the New Age movement. After listening to a lecture by Dr Walter Stein, a student of Rudolf Steiner in 1942, he turned from being agnostic to new age spiritual thinker, and even studied anthroposophy in the...
: memories and observations mentions his close friendship with and actions on behalf of Tudor Pole. A biography The Two Worlds of Wellesley Tudor Pole by Gerry Fenge is being published on the internet and covers 1884 to 1931.
Biographical notes
From the introduction to The Silent RoadBy Brinsley le Poer Trench
Brinsley Le Poer Trench, 8th Earl of Clancarty
William Francis Brinsley Le Poer Trench, 8th Earl of Clancarty, 7th Marquess of Heusden was a prominent ufologist. He was an Irish peer, as well a nobleman in the Dutch nobility.-Biography:...
Some people are publicists; others act unseen
behind the scenes and let their deeds speak for
themselves. Tudor Pole is one of the latter group.
If you passed him in the street you would not realize
that there was anything particularly unusual about him.
But he is, I assure you, a quite exceptional man.
He is utterly modest and unassuming. Although he
would never admit it, I dare say that half his life has been
spent in listening to people's troubles and advising them
on how to overcome their problems. In addition, I suspect that much of his sleeping life is also taken up with
problems concerning the world's affairs. And by this
I mean actual spiritual work while he is 'out of the body'
in the sleep state.
Tudor Pole is the confidant of the great and the lowly,
the rich and the poor. He is a kind of Albert Schweitzer
for the sick in mind. And yet he is wise enough to know
that nobody can solve another's troubles or run their
lives for them. One cannot permit another to take over
one's own burdens and liabilities, leaving one, as it
were, free and comfortable, without responsibilities.
Each one of us has to find his own way and salvation.
Spiritual and material progress lies solely with the
individual. Outsiders can only point the way. And this
is what Tudor Pole, in his wisdom, tells each one who
comes seeking solace.
Although he has had many astonishing experiences
of a most singular nature, some of which are described
in these pages, he has his feet firmly anchored on the
ground. The greater part of his life, apart from five
years in the Army, has been spent in the world of industry. However, his interests are decidedly varied. He has
traveled widely and has undertaken archaeological
research in Egypt, Palestine, Turkey and the Sahara. ...