The Torch Magazine
At the beginning of the year Knight Athene (Mrs. Mills), suggested that an attempt should be made to produce a Round Table magazine in Auckland. A committee was formed to take charge of this work, and the first issue appeared on February 20. Since then it has been regularly published each month.
Our idea in starting a magazine was to provide the young people with a medium through which they could express their ideas and opinions on various topics. It was also hoped that it would act as a connecting link between the Tables throughout New Zealand.
Several members of the Theosophical Society, who have no connection with the Round Table whatever, have become subscribers, and if you wish to receive a copy monthly, you are invited to communicate with the Editor, The Torch, 371 Queen Street, Auckland, Cl. The price of the journal is twopence per copy.
Milton Thornton, Editor.
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine July 1936
Our idea in starting a magazine was to provide the young people with a medium through which they could express their ideas and opinions on various topics. It was also hoped that it would act as a connecting link between the Tables throughout New Zealand.
Several members of the Theosophical Society, who have no connection with the Round Table whatever, have become subscribers, and if you wish to receive a copy monthly, you are invited to communicate with the Editor, The Torch, 371 Queen Street, Auckland, Cl. The price of the journal is twopence per copy.
Milton Thornton, Editor.
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine July 1936
Editorial from the August 1936 issue:
The most important work the Theosophical Society is doing in Auckland is probably Vasanta Garden School. For it is the teachers, as Mr. Jinarajadasa said, who build the state.
Strangely enough there are few people who realize this fact. Teachers are if anything looked upon as men among boys and boys among men – as a friend of mine put it.
Yet if we consider for a moment the importance of their work it will be seen that they should be chosen carefully and that teaching should be an honoured profession.
They have to mould the character of the future citizen – they are like the sculpture with his clay, he can build and manipulate it into a beautiful image of he can distort and spoil it.
Within the last few years there have been rapid changes in the realms of education; instead of cramming in, the modern educationalist attempts to draw out the child’s latent faculties.
Vasanta School is an up-to-date, open-air school, and the Theosophical Society is doing a great work there.
We in the Round Table should give it every possible assistance.
The Editor (Milton Thornton)
Vasanta Hits The High Spots - Children’s 'Night-Out'
As an old pupil who has taken part on Vasanta School concerts and seen a good many since, I can definitely state that the one given by the school on Thursday, August 15th, surpassed anything which has been done before. The hall was packed with proud parents and friends. The opening number was “In a Persian Market” and this was followed by a delightful little play by the junior school, “The Elf Child”. Jocelyn Wells gave a display of Indian club swinging, Fay McAneney played a pianoforte solo and part-songs were sung by the seniors. An abridged addition of “Alice in Wonderland” which included the ever-popular Mad Tea Party, was well received. The seniors played “The House with the Twisty Windows”, a sombre play of revolutionary days in Russia.
The final item was cleverly lit tableau “The Dawn”. It was compiled and parts of it were written by the secondary school master, Mr. J. G. Patterson, (Knight Galahad)
It was a splendid evening.
From July 1936:
VASANTA SCHOOL NOTES
Cooking classes under the capable direction of Mrs. Fossey have been started. Full equipment has been provided and the girls are producing a multitude of smells – and excellent dishes.
We were lucky enough to beat a Diocesan School team at net-ball last year, so we expected the defeat we got this year. We are to play some further matches, however, with them and hope to make a better showing. The junior team is to meet Fitzroy School shortly.
PLAYS AND PLAYERS
VASANTA SCHOOL EFFORT "THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTY WINDOWS"
The School has made a new departure this year and has entered a team in the British Drama League Junior Festival. The play is "The House with the Twisty Windows" by Mary Pakington and should be quite an interesting perfromance. It is a drama of reality and imagination with its scene in the cellar of a house in Petrograd during the Russian Revolution. Production is well under way as the play is to be performed publically in the Lewis Eady Hall, Queen St., on Friday afternoon, 24th July.
The cast is as follows:
James Roper, K.C.
Miss Joclyn Wells
Charlie Clive
Miss Sheila Mason
Miss Teresa, Lady Ponting
Miss Freda Powell
Miss Heather Sorrell
Miss Lena Robertson
Miss Anne Sorrell
Miss Joah Mulholland
Derricic Moore
Miss Margaret Hurst
Stepan (a Russian soldier)
Miss Joy Hanlon
The play will also be performed with other items at the School Concert which is to be held at the Theosophical Hall on Thursday, August 13th. The children, young and old, will present a various programme. You will meet the 'Mad Hatter", you will be shown the future of the world, and you will see mysterious lights moving about the stage ..... an evening of little children, of drama, of singing and sparkling entertainment. We want you all to advertise this function --- it will be worth it!
Strangely enough there are few people who realize this fact. Teachers are if anything looked upon as men among boys and boys among men – as a friend of mine put it.
Yet if we consider for a moment the importance of their work it will be seen that they should be chosen carefully and that teaching should be an honoured profession.
They have to mould the character of the future citizen – they are like the sculpture with his clay, he can build and manipulate it into a beautiful image of he can distort and spoil it.
Within the last few years there have been rapid changes in the realms of education; instead of cramming in, the modern educationalist attempts to draw out the child’s latent faculties.
Vasanta School is an up-to-date, open-air school, and the Theosophical Society is doing a great work there.
We in the Round Table should give it every possible assistance.
The Editor (Milton Thornton)
Vasanta Hits The High Spots - Children’s 'Night-Out'
As an old pupil who has taken part on Vasanta School concerts and seen a good many since, I can definitely state that the one given by the school on Thursday, August 15th, surpassed anything which has been done before. The hall was packed with proud parents and friends. The opening number was “In a Persian Market” and this was followed by a delightful little play by the junior school, “The Elf Child”. Jocelyn Wells gave a display of Indian club swinging, Fay McAneney played a pianoforte solo and part-songs were sung by the seniors. An abridged addition of “Alice in Wonderland” which included the ever-popular Mad Tea Party, was well received. The seniors played “The House with the Twisty Windows”, a sombre play of revolutionary days in Russia.
The final item was cleverly lit tableau “The Dawn”. It was compiled and parts of it were written by the secondary school master, Mr. J. G. Patterson, (Knight Galahad)
It was a splendid evening.
From July 1936:
VASANTA SCHOOL NOTES
Cooking classes under the capable direction of Mrs. Fossey have been started. Full equipment has been provided and the girls are producing a multitude of smells – and excellent dishes.
We were lucky enough to beat a Diocesan School team at net-ball last year, so we expected the defeat we got this year. We are to play some further matches, however, with them and hope to make a better showing. The junior team is to meet Fitzroy School shortly.
PLAYS AND PLAYERS
VASANTA SCHOOL EFFORT "THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTY WINDOWS"
The School has made a new departure this year and has entered a team in the British Drama League Junior Festival. The play is "The House with the Twisty Windows" by Mary Pakington and should be quite an interesting perfromance. It is a drama of reality and imagination with its scene in the cellar of a house in Petrograd during the Russian Revolution. Production is well under way as the play is to be performed publically in the Lewis Eady Hall, Queen St., on Friday afternoon, 24th July.
The cast is as follows:
James Roper, K.C.
Miss Joclyn Wells
Charlie Clive
Miss Sheila Mason
Miss Teresa, Lady Ponting
Miss Freda Powell
Miss Heather Sorrell
Miss Lena Robertson
Miss Anne Sorrell
Miss Joah Mulholland
Derricic Moore
Miss Margaret Hurst
Stepan (a Russian soldier)
Miss Joy Hanlon
The play will also be performed with other items at the School Concert which is to be held at the Theosophical Hall on Thursday, August 13th. The children, young and old, will present a various programme. You will meet the 'Mad Hatter", you will be shown the future of the world, and you will see mysterious lights moving about the stage ..... an evening of little children, of drama, of singing and sparkling entertainment. We want you all to advertise this function --- it will be worth it!
And some more from 1939...
VASANTA GARDEN SCHOOL.
Skipping over the pre-war period, we come to Vasanta Garden School in 1920, when it was a boarding school. Those were the Red-letter days of the Order, when no less than 60 graced the Circle, enthusiasm was at peak point and the redoubtable J.R.T. never failed to inspire as Leader. We had to take a church hall in the vicinity, our numbers were so large. I shall never forget those days, nor will all of the young people all their lives, for the very Presence of the King was often in very truth in the midst of those gatherings. Miss Gladys Peake must not be forgotten, - she was wonderful with the small Pages.
LOTUS BUD'S JOURNAL.
Much of the success of the Round Table was due to the preparatory work of the Golden Chain movement and the Lotus Circle so ably inspired by Miss Christie. Reference must also be made to the excellent and popular magazine for young children -- the Lotus Buds' Journal. Enthusiastically supported by all T.S. workers this magazine was published by Mr. James Prickett and was actually printed by Mr. Prickett, and Mr, J.R. Thomson and other helpers.
Skipping over the pre-war period, we come to Vasanta Garden School in 1920, when it was a boarding school. Those were the Red-letter days of the Order, when no less than 60 graced the Circle, enthusiasm was at peak point and the redoubtable J.R.T. never failed to inspire as Leader. We had to take a church hall in the vicinity, our numbers were so large. I shall never forget those days, nor will all of the young people all their lives, for the very Presence of the King was often in very truth in the midst of those gatherings. Miss Gladys Peake must not be forgotten, - she was wonderful with the small Pages.
LOTUS BUD'S JOURNAL.
Much of the success of the Round Table was due to the preparatory work of the Golden Chain movement and the Lotus Circle so ably inspired by Miss Christie. Reference must also be made to the excellent and popular magazine for young children -- the Lotus Buds' Journal. Enthusiastically supported by all T.S. workers this magazine was published by Mr. James Prickett and was actually printed by Mr. Prickett, and Mr, J.R. Thomson and other helpers.