Manly P. Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manly P. Hall
|
|
|---|---|
Hall in the late 1920s
|
|
| Born | March 18, 1901 Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | August 29, 1990 (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Occupation | Philosopher, writer |
| Citizenship | Canada |
| Period | 1919–1990 |
| Subject | Philosophy |
| Notable works | The Secret Teachings of All Ages The Lost Keys Of Freemasonry |
| Spouse | Marie Bauer (m.1950) Fay Lee (m.1930) |
Manly Palmer Hall (born March 18, 1901 – died August 29, 1990) was a Canadian author and speaker. He was also interested in astrology and mysticism, which is about spiritual truths and hidden meanings. During his 70-year career, he gave many talks and wrote over 150 books. His most famous book is The Secret Teachings of All Ages, published in 1928. In 1934, he started the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles.
Contents
Manly Hall's Early Life
Manly Hall was born in 1901 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. His mother, Louise Palmer Hall, was a chiropractor. His father, William S. Hall, was a dentist. Manly Hall never knew his father.
In 1919, Hall moved to Los Angeles to live with his mother. She was living in Santa Monica at the time. Soon after moving, he became very interested in mysticism and esoteric philosophies. These are ideas about hidden knowledge and spiritual wisdom.
Manly Hall's Career as a Speaker and Writer
In 1919, Manly Hall became a preacher at the Church of the People. This church was in downtown Los Angeles. Less than a year later, he gave his first public talk. It was about reincarnation, the idea of being reborn.
On May 17, 1923, Hall became an ordained minister. This meant he was officially a church leader. A few days later, he was chosen as the "permanent pastor" of the church. His first writings were two small books. They were called The Breastplate of the High Priest (1920) and Wands and Serpents (1927). Between 1922 and 1923, he wrote three more books. These included The Initiates of the Flame (1922) and The Lost Keys of Freemasonry (1923).
In the early 1920s, a woman named Caroline Lloyd and her daughter Estelle helped Hall. They sent him a lot of money from their family's oil business. With this money, Hall traveled around Europe and Asia. He studied different cultures, customs, and religions.
While in London in the 1930s, Hall bought many rare books. These books were about alchemy and esotericism. He bought them at a low price because of the Great Depression. Caroline Lloyd passed away in 1946. She left Hall a house, money, and a share of her family's oil profits.
What is The Secret Teachings of All Ages?
By 1928, Manly Hall was well-known for explaining ancient writings. He asked the public for money to help publish his book. This book was called The Secret Teachings of All Ages. He hired an artist named John Augustus Knapp to create beautiful pictures for it.
The book became very popular. It made people think about their spiritual beliefs in new ways. Hall wrote that the book showed a "secret doctrine." This doctrine was hidden in ancient symbols and stories. It was about the inner mysteries of life.
One writer described the book as "gorgeous" and "dreamlike." It had mysterious symbols and colorful drawings. These showed mythical creatures and angelic beings. They were part of ancient civilizations that had special powers.
In 1988, Hall said he wanted this important knowledge to be available. He wanted it in a beautiful book, not just a cheap one. The book designer, John Henry Nash, agreed with him.
More Books and Lectures by Manly Hall
After the success of The Secret Teachings of All Ages, Hall wrote many more books. Some important ones include The Dionysian Artificers (1936) and Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians (1937).
Manly Hall continued his career even when he was in his seventies. He gave about 8,000 lectures in the United States and other countries. He wrote over 150 books and essays. He also wrote many articles for magazines.
Hall appeared in the 1938 movie When Were You Born. This was a mystery film where astrology was important. Hall wrote the original story for the movie. He was also the narrator.
In 1942, Hall gave a talk at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The talk was called "The Secret Destiny of America." This later became a book with the same title. In this book, Hall suggested that a secret group of philosophers helped create America. They wanted it to be a country with religious freedom.
Hall claimed that an angel was present when the Declaration of Independence was signed. He said the angel inspired the signers with God's words. President Ronald Reagan later used ideas from Hall's book in his speeches.
Hall returned to Carnegie Hall in 1945. He gave another popular lecture. It was titled "Plato's Prophecy of Worldwide Democracy."
Manly Hall's Personal Life
On April 28, 1930, Manly Hall married Fay B. deRavenne. She had been his secretary for five years. Later, on December 5, 1950, Hall married Marie Schweikert Bauer. This marriage was happier than his first. Marie Schweikert Bauer Hall passed away in 2005.
In 1934, Hall started the Philosophical Research Society (PRS) in Los Angeles. This is a group that studies religion, mythology, and hidden knowledge. The PRS has a library with over 50,000 books. It also sells and publishes books, mostly by Hall.
After Hall passed away, some of his rare books were sold. This helped the PRS continue its work. In 1995, the Getty Research Institute bought Hall's collection of books. It is now one of the best collections of books on alchemy and hidden knowledge.
Hall was also a member of Freemasonry. This is a fraternal organization with a long history. He joined Jewel Lodge No. 374 in San Francisco in 1954. He later received the 32° in the Scottish Rite. On December 8, 1973, Hall was recognized as a 33° Mason. This is a very high honor in Freemasonry.
Manly Hall's Books
- (1922) The Initiates of the Flame
- (1923) The Lost Keys of Freemasonry
- (1925) The Noble Eightfold Path: Teachings of the Great Buddha
- (1928) The Secret Teachings of All Ages
- (1929) Lectures on Ancient Philosophy
- (1942) How to Understand Your Bible
- (1944) The Secret Destiny of America
- (1988) Meditation Symbols in Eastern & Western Mysticism
See also
In Spanish: Manly Palmer Hall para niños
