Wellesley Tudor Pole

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Major Wellesley Tudor Pole (1884 - 1964)^[1] was a early British Bahá'í.

There is no published biography known, but he is mentioned in many works. He authored many pamphlets and books and was a life long 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 and Arthurian Legend.

Contents 1 Moments in history 2 Writings 2.1 Mentioned in other books 3 Biographical notes 4 Notes

[edit] Moments in history

• He predated the Armistice Day with a number of forms of taking note of the sacrifices in war made.
• He instituted the Big Ben Silent Minute (in collaboration with Sir Winston Churchill) and then The Lamplighter Movement^[2]. These led to the Remembrance Ceremony or Remembrance Day^[3].
• He founded a group preserving the Chalice Well and Bride's Mound of Glastonbury, England, and aided a claim of a discovery of the Holy Grail^[4]
• He meets and interviews (and publishes the interview of) 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the fall-winter of 1910^[5] and also the speaker for the english translation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's first talk in the West on the evening of September 10th, 1911^[6][7].
• He delivered the telegram notifying Shoghi Effendi of the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

[edit] Writings

• Private Dowding -The personal story of a soldier killed in battle First Published August 1917, then Printed in Great Britain by Clarke, Doble and Brendon, Ltd. of Cattedown, and Plymouth, six editions and Sixth Revised Edition published by Neville Spearman in 1966. "Synopsis:... this book was in the forefront of many invaluable records, since produced, purporting to describe the conditions of life after death."^[8] From the preface of the sixth edition by Tudor Pole he says:

Since the first appearance of this book, nearly half a century ago, many invaluable records have been published purporting to describe the conditions into which we pass when the time comes for us to leave this planet. To a certain extent 'Private Dowding' has proved to be a pioneer in this field. This book has become a 'period piece' and should be read as such although in my view the Message it contains was never more valuable than it is now. Just as our experiences on earth are entirely individual and personal to each one of us, so it would seem are the experiences we meet as we pass forward into another world. In spite of this fact it is to me both remarkable and significant that the majority of current writings on this important subject tend largely to confirm one another in their accounts of 'Borderland' conditions. In regard to detail it should be remembered that no two people living through the same event, even here on earth, are able to describe or memorise it in the same way. It is natural, therefore that differences of perception and of outlook should colour the various accounts of what happens to us after 'death'. This book contains a number of very optimistic predictions about the future welfare of the human race. A word of warning is necessary here. To those who live beyond the confines of time and space it is conceivable that a thousand years of human 'time' may appear to occupy the period of a single 'Day'. I have no doubt that the prophecies given by the 'Messenger' in part III of this book are destined to be fulfilled long before our planet ceases to function as a living entity. Surely it is man's mission to do all in his power to bring the 'Golden Age' of which the 'Messenger' speaks, nearer than seems credibly possible to our restricted vision. We should strive our utmost with this end in view, even if this end may seem remote and almost beyond the range of our present faith and understanding. We can take both courage and solace from the fact that a fresh spiritual Impulse is now making itself felt in our midst and that to our Creator, working through the hearts and minds of men, all things are not only possible but are certain to be harmoniously fulfilled in due course, both in time and in Eternity.

• The Silent Road Published in London by Neville Spearman, 1960.

• A Man Seen Afar "provides a valuable insight into the life of Jesus through personal recollection!!! There are some fine details & descriptions, therefore, that one would not encounter elsewhere. Tudor Pole was a highly secretive individual who was obviously a Great Soul, an Initiate of the Ancient Mysteries, who worked Wonders behind the scenes. However, he did not want this to detract, or divert from, the Message. ^[9]
• Writing On The Ground "Synopsis - In this book the author takes us beyond the familiar Gospel narratives and suggests that many seemingly everyday events in the life of Jesus were in reality a cosmic import. He sees the spiritual impulse of 2,000 years ago as a continuing process, as potent today as ever."^[10] From scanned in text conversion, marginally cleaned up, we find from the forward:

Is life extinguished by death or does it continue beyond the grave? The very act of living <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Lupin/navpop.css&action=raw&ctype=text/css&dontcountme=s">poses this question and the answer we arrive at--consciously or unconsciously-- influences our every thought and every action throughout our lives. In this book, as in other books by Tudor Pole, this <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Lupin/navpop.css&action=raw&ctype=text/css&dontcountme=s">question is neither posed nor answered explicitly. The reason, it seems to me, is that for him the question is irrelevant because the answer to it is an ever present reality, so obvious, so much a part of his life that it is simply taken for granted.... D. F. O. RUSSELL

And from the introduction:

The idea began in 1917 when two British officers were discussing the war and its probable aftermath. The conversation took place in a billet on the hillside at the mouth of a cave in the Palestine hills, and on the eve of a battle. One of the two, a man of unusual character and vision, realising intuitively that his days on earth were to be shortened, told his friend, who was Tudor Pole: "I shan't come through this struggle and, like millions of others, it will be my destiny to go on. You will survive and live to see a greater and more vital conflict fought out in every continent and ocean and in the air. When that times comes, remember us. We shall long to play our part. Give us the opportunity to do so, for that war will be a righteous war. We shall not then fight with material weapons, but we will be able to help you if you will let us. We shall be an unseen but mighty army. You will still have 'time' as your servant. Lend us a mome~lt of it each day and through your silence give us our opportunity. The power of silence is greater than you know. When those tragic days arrive do not forget us." Next day the speaker was killed. W.T.P. was severely wounded and left with the enemy, but managed to get back to the British lines, with an inescapable sense of miraculous deliverance. ... In I965 in collaboration with his friend Rosamond Lehmann he produced a book which is now a treasured possession for many of us--A Man Seen Afar. The material for this, though prepared for during many years of mind training and discipline, was received, as he says, "spontaneously and naturally" over a period of less than three months. It amounts to a delineation of a small historical area of space and time concerned with Jesus, his daily circum- stances and his mission. It is a picture which in places amplifles and in places contradicts the Gospel accounts. These insights produce, as Rosamond Lehmanul said, a kind of shock, as of fuller recognition, stilling attention without conscious effort, a "touchstone" quality that made all question of evidence or proof seem to her irrelevant. The "glimpses" do indeed have this quality. Merely reading them produces a subtle change in our spiritual outlook. They may do more. They lead to a qualitative change in our understanding. ... Some time ago it became apparent that he proposed to extend the glimpses given in A Man Seen Afar and to my alarm insisted that I should collaborate. I have reservations alike about clairvoyance and about mysticism. I have never talked to a departed relative, never had a religious experience. From both the orthodox and the heterodox aspects of the transcendental, it would be difficult to find anyone more extensively unqualified to work with Tudor Pole. Yet he insists that I should introduce these new glimpses, edit them, collate them and comment on them. More, he assumed that it was a foregone conclusion that I would do so. In agrecing, I made the single condition that I would do it according to my lights (if any) and this, so it says, is precisely what is wanted. I can only assume that this is an example of what Huxley called "grace in queer places". WALTER LANG

• My Dear Alexias "Perhaps the most enlightening of TP's books, in terms of providin an insight to the man himself , is 'My Dear Alexias', taken from letters between TP & his 'chosen' co-author Rosamund Lehmann. His writings are esoteric but provide Revelation to those willing to see. I would recommend his books to all Seekers of Truth out there!"^[11]
• The Upper Room with Commentary about a mystic experience of visiting the Upper Room of Christian reference.
• 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 Neville Coventry, Publisher: J.M. Watkins - 1951, ISBN B000EGLX5Q

[edit] 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 as the "soldier" in The Servant, the General and Armageddon.

Wellesley Tudor Pole - Appreciation and Valuation by Oliver G Villiers, as a privately printed stapled booklet, is a "biographical memorial to the mystic and seer. With seven photographs."^[12]

"Sir George Trevelyan: memories and observations"^[13] mentions his close friendship with and actions on behalf of Pole (not George Otto Trevelyan, nor his son George Macaulay Trevelyan but instead George Macaulay Trevelyan's nephew - Sir George Trevelyan, 4th Baronet.

[edit] Biographical notes

From the introduction to The Silent Road^[14]

By The Hon. Brinsley le Poer Trench

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 realise 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 thek 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 hrmly anchored on the ground. The greater part of his life, apart from five years in the Army, has been spent in the world of indus- try. However, his interests are decidedly varied. He has travelled widely and has undertaken archaeological research in Egypt, Palestine, Turkey and the Sahara....

[edit] Notes