Brother XII facts for kids

Edward Arthur Wilson (born July 25, 1878 – died November 7, 1934) was an interesting English person. He was better known as Brother XII. In the late 1920s, he started a special spiritual community. This community was located near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.

Early Life and Visions

Wilson was born in Birmingham, England. His family was very religious. He later said that angels visited him when he was a child. This made him feel like he had a special purpose.

Starting a Spiritual Community

Wilson traveled the world as a sailor. He first visited Canada in 1905. He spent time studying many different religions. He believed he was preparing for a special destiny. He said this destiny was revealed to him in a vision in France in 1924. Soon, many people started to follow him. Some of these followers were wealthy and important members of society.

The Aquarian Foundation

After his vision, Wilson took the name Brother XII. In 1927, he created a group called the Aquarian Foundation. The group's beliefs were based on ideas from the Theosophical Society. This society explores spiritual wisdom and the hidden laws of nature.

Brother XII wrote two booklets: The Three Truths and Foundation Letters and Teachings. These books explained his ideas. He asked readers to donate money to his cause. He also encouraged them to build homes in a new colony. This colony was called Cedar-by-the-Sea. It was set up near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Building the Colony

The goal of the Aquarian Foundation was to create a community. This community would be self-sufficient, meaning it could support itself. It also aimed to be independent from the outside world. The Foundation bought more land on nearby Valdes and De Courcy Islands. Much of this land was bought with money from a rich follower named Mary Connally. She was from Asheville, North Carolina. Other followers also gave money to support Brother XII's work. They saw him as a spiritual teacher.

Challenges and Changes

Over time, some problems started within the colony. Some people who followed Brother XII began to criticize him. They said he claimed to be the reincarnation of the Egyptian god Osiris. Brother XII replied that he was speaking in a symbolic way. He said Osiris and Isis were like male and female forces in nature.

However, there were also problems with how Brother XII handled the Foundation's money. These money issues led to the community breaking apart. The Aquarian Foundation was officially closed in 1929. But Brother XII continued his work with followers who stayed loyal to him. He also found new people to join his group.

The End of the Colony

As more time passed, Brother XII became very strict and suspicious. He made his island community stronger, like a fort. He was also said to have collected a lot of gold. His partner, Mabel Skottowe, who was known as "Madame Z," made the members work very hard. She said these tasks were tests to help them grow spiritually.

One man who was kept in a difficult situation on Valdes Island managed to escape. He rowed to Nanaimo and told the police what was happening. The British Columbia Provincial Police investigated, but they did not take further action.

Eventually, conditions got worse. Brother XII's main followers rebelled. They took legal action against him to get back the money they had given. In a strong reaction, Brother XII destroyed parts of the colony. He smashed buildings and farm equipment. He also sank his main sailboat, the Lady Royal.

Escape and Later Life

Wilson and Skottowe then escaped in their private tugboat, the Kheunaten. They left to avoid going to court to answer the charges from their former followers. By 1932, they had fled to Europe. They were reported to have taken a large amount of gold with them.

Wilson is believed to have died in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, on November 7, 1934. However, some people think he might have pretended to die. There is a story that he later met his lawyer in San Francisco. The lawyer's son said he saw this meeting happen.