ARTHUR LOVELL: PUBLICATIONS LIST
Compiled: March/April 2023
IN THE GOLDEN DAWN
Arthur Lovell was initiated into the GD at its Isis-Urania temple in London, in January 1899. He chose the motto Voluntate et Imagine. By 1900, record-keeping at Isis-Urania was not as careful as it had been in the early 1890s. However, what records there were from this time indicate that Lovell never followed up his initiation.
Source: The GD Companion compiled by R A Gilbert from original documents. Wellingborough Northants: The Aquarian Press p160. Gilbert’s papers did give the names of people initiated around 1900 who subsequently joined the GD’s inner, 2nd Order. Lovell was not one of those people.
Arthur Lovell was the professional and writing name of David Coethyr Williams, born Llansawel Carmarthenshire 1864, died Chorley Wood 1933. From the 1890s until his death he worked and wrote as an alternative practitioner, developing his own Ars Vivendi system - mental and physical exercises to promote health and the unity of mind and body. Techniques of deep breathing, influenced by yoga, were a key part of the system. He was a spiritualist, a freemason and a keen member of Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SRIA) whose Supreme Magus was GD founder William Wynn Westcott.
THE PUBLICATIONS
ARTICLES
At least between 1897 and 1903, Lovell was a regular contributor to the spiritualist magazine Light.
1897
How Spirit Creates Matter
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research published for its proprietors (ultimately, the London Spiritualist Alliance). Volume 17 January-December 1897. This had originally been a talk at the LSA’s meeting of 18 December 1893. It was published in two parts: issue of 2 January 1897 pp7-9; and issue of 9 January 1897 pp15-17.
Three short items by Lovell were published later in the year in
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research published for its proprietors (ultimately, the London Spiritualist Alliance). Volume 17 January-December 1897.
- issue of 16 January 1897 p34: Hypnotism.
- issue of 13 March 1897 pp124-25: The Mystery of Initiation.
- issue of 20 November 1897 p567: Charming Warts.
1898
Will-Force: Experimental Research into the Direct Influence of Mental Waves upon a Material Object.
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult, and Mystical Research published for the proprietors at 110 St Martin’s Lane. Volume 18 January-December 1878. Published in two parts: issue of 19 March 1898 pp139-140; and issue of 26 March 1898 pp151-53.
And some shorter publications following up articles by other writers:
- issue of 16 April 1898 p191: The Contradictions of Theosophy, with Lovell responding to an article in Light 19 March 1898 by GD member Edward William Berridge.
- issue 7 May 1898 p227: a second letter from Lovell on the same theme.
- issue of 11 June 1898 p287: Initiation – what is it?
- issue of 6 August 1898 p385: Freemasonry and Spiritualism. This also commented on a publication by a GD member: Sydney Turner Klein’s Hidden Mystery Number 3, or The Lovers of the Atoms, published in Ars Quatuor Coronatorum on 8 June 1898. AQC was the magazine of craft freemasons’ lodge Quatuor Coronati 2076; Lovell, Klein and Westcott were all members of it.
- issue of 5 November 1898 p548: The Science of Health.
1899
Some short items in Light:
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research. Published for the propietors at 110 St Martin’s Lane. Volume 19 January-December 1899.
- issue of 21 January 1899 p36: The Human Sun.
- issue of 18 February 1899 p81: A Psychical Institute. Lovell and others were responding to a suggestion that one be founded, made by the person writing as Quaestor Vitae in the issue of 7 January 1899 pp7-8.
- issues of 14 October 1899 pp483-84 and 4 November 1899 p524: Immortality Here.
1900
Spiritualism and Theosophy: Theory and Practice
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research. Published London f Proprs at 110 St Martin’s Lane. Volume 20 January-December 1900. Issue of 13 January 1900 p19.
Materialisations. A Remarkable Séance.
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research. Published in London for its Proprietors at 110 St Martin’s Lane. Volume 20 January-December 1900. Issue of 28 April 1900 pp194-95.
Masonry as the Supreme Science and Art. A short report on a talk by Lovell, though without the full text.
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research. Published London f Proprs at 110 St Martin’s Lane. Volume 20 January-December 1900. Issue of 4 August 1900 p371.
Lovell had given the talk at a meeting of SRIA. William Wynn Westcott chaired the meeting and another GD member, Robert Palmer Thomas, had been in the audience.
1900
The Danger of Mediumship
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research. Published London f Proprs at 110 St Martin’s Lane. Volume 20 January-December 1900 issue of 6 October 1900 p477. He was responding to two items published in Light on 22 September 1900.
As at March 2023 I have only checked for Lovell in Light as far as end 1903.
1908
Deep Breathing as a Cure for TB.
Pall Mall Gazette 23 January 1908: letter from Lovell, probably in connection with his book on the subject; see the Books list below.
Lovell may have been a regular contributor to Pall Mall Gazette.
1915 and 1916 several items in Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley, published London: William Rider and Son Ltd, 164 Aldersgate St EC.
- volume 22 number 4 October 1915 p235: a letter: Christian Science
- volume 22 number 6 December 1915 p368: a follow-up letter: Christian Science.
- volume 23 number 2 February 1916 pp78-84: an article this time: Christian Science
- volume 23 number 3 March 1916 p167: a third letter: Christian Science
- volume 23 number 5 May 1916 p281: a fourth letter: Christian Science – a Rejoinder
September 1916
Projection of the Astral Body
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley, published London: William Rider and Son Ltd, 164 Aldersgate St EC. Volume 24 September 1916 p169.
Most issues of Occult Review can now be read at iapsop.com. First issue January 1905; it continued to be published until 1948, past the death of its founder and original editor, Ralph Shirley. Several years ago I searched the index to items in Occult Review which was then at www.austheos.org, going as far as 1927; by March 2023 that web page didn’t exist any more. In March 2023 I searched Occult Review on iapsop.com as far as end 1930.
DATES UNKNOWN
Contributions to Saturday Review.
Lovell is mentioned as a frequent contributor, in The Literary Year-Book 1921 editor Mark Meredith Published London: George Routledge and Sons Ltd. And New York: E P Dutton and Co: p227.
IN A YEAR-BOOK:
1904
Reichenbach’s Researches.
Transactions of the Vril-ya Club. Volume 1 number 1. Published London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.
This was originally a lecture on the work of Karl von Reichenbach (1788-1869) given by Arthur Lovell as founder and President of the Club. The British Library has “mislaid” its copy of this but I think at least part of it can be read at iapsop.com.
BOOKS
This list is based on entries in the British Library catalogue and at worldcat.org; and Lovell’s entry in the The Literary Year-Book 1921 editor Mark Meredith Published London George Routledge and Sons Ltd. And NewYork: E P Dutton and Co: p227.
The earliest work by Arthur Lovell that I could find was published in 1891. I haven’t attempted to find out whether he published anything as David Coethyr Williams.
1891 The Ideal of Man. London: Chapman and Hall.
Times 24 February 1891 p12 in the Publications To-day column.
Cymmrodor volume 11 1892. Published by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion of London. On pxiv in a list of donations to the Society’s library, a copy of The Ideal of Man by Arthur Lovell was described as given by its author, Mr D Coethyr Williams.
The books Ars Vivendi, Volo, Imagination, and Concentration are volumes 1 to 4 in Arthur Lovell’s Ars Vivendi system promoting physical and mental health and wellbeing.
1895 Ars Vivendi; or, the Secret of Acquiring Mental and Bodily Vigour. London: Nichols and Co.
1896: 2nd edition, not in the British Library but advertised in Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research published for its proprietors. Volume 17 January-December 1897. In the issue of Sat 16 January 1897 and for the next few weeks, on pi in the small ads there was an advert for Ars Vivendi quoting a review published in the Pall Mall Magazine November 1896; published London: Nichols and Co of 23 Oxford St.
1901: 3rd edition announced in the Times 2 December 1901 p7 Publications To-day.
1902: 4th edition, published London: Arthur Lovell. Advertised in Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research volume 23 January-December 1903. London: published for its proprietors at 110 St Martin’s Lane; issues 4 Aug to 26 Sep 1903 pi of each issue, the small ads. This edition was one of 5000 copies. Lovell had revised it and added five new chapters: “Breathing and Physical Culture – Translation of Nerve Energy and Suggestion – Vril and Individual Influence – Symbology of the Developed Man”. A “Hyksos sphinx – symbol of calmness and of power – on Cover”. 2/3, post free.
1906: 5th edition, enlarged; published London: Simpkin Marshall and Co.
I don’t know the date of the 6th edition.
1922: 7th edition as Ars Vivendi (= The Art of Living) published London: Arthur Lovell.
1932: popular edition published London: Simpkin Marshall. There’s an advert for it, still as the 7th edition, in Belfast News-Letter issue of Thurs 3 March 1932 p10 stating that Lovell had added two new chapters, one focusing on TB, the other on sinus problems.
1897 Volo; or, the Will, What it is, How to Strengthen, and How to use it. Ars Vivendi volume 2. London: Nichols and Co.
Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research published for its proprietors (ultimately, the London Spiritualist Alliance). Volume 17 January-December 1897. Issue of Sat 14 August 1897 p389 listed Volo, or the Will in that week’s new publications. In the issue of Sat 4 September 1897 p429 there was a long, uncredited review of it.
1901: 2nd edition available: Times 2 December 1901 p7.
1912: 4th edition, revised; published London: J W Williams.
1899 Imagination and its Wonders. Ars Vivendi volume 3. London: Nichols and Co. I didn’t see any copies of the first edition in the public domain.
1910: 2nd edition.
1900 Concentration. As Ars Vivendi volume 4.
I haven’t seen a copy of the first edition in any library but its publication in October 1900 was announced in Light: A Journal of Psychical, Occult and Mystical Research. Published for its propietors at 110 St Martin’s Lane. Volume 20 January-December 1900. Issue of 15 September 1900 p441. The book contained an Appendix on Patanjali’s Yoga Aphorisms; with notes by Lovell.
1903 2nd, enlarged, edition published London: Arthur Lovell. Times 4 June 1903 p2c new publications.
I don’t know the date of the 3rd edition.
1912: 4th edition; published London: J W Williams.
Subsequent new publications were not part of the four volumes in the Ars Vivendi series.
1904 Beauty of Tone in Speech and Song. London: Simpkin Marshall and Co.
1912: 2nd edition published London: J W Williams.
1906 How to Think. London: Arthur Lovell.
1913: 2nd edition published London: J W Williams.
1907 Deep Breathing. London: A Lovell, through agent J Wooderson of 23 Oxford Street.
1908: 2nd edition. The only copy I came across was at the Wellcome Collection - a copy of the 2nd edition which you can read online.
1912 New Light on Consumption (TB, that is). London: J W Williams.
1915 Meditation. London: Simpkin Marshall and Co.
1933 The Breath of Life. London: Arthur Lovell.
Copyright SALLY DAVIS
22 April 2023
Email me at
Find the web pages of Roger Wright and Sally Davis, including my list of people initiated into the Order of the Golden Dawn between 1888 and 1901, at:
www.wrightanddavis.co.uk
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