| Description | /1 Manuscript letter from Victoria Welby [Philosopher, 1837-1912] to Oliver Lodge, written from Denton Manor, Grantham, 2 April 1898. Welby is 'screwing up enough courage' to write to Lodge and send him a copy of her 'little book' after reading an article in 'Nature' protesting against the phrase 'invisible light'. She also writes that she wishes she and Lodge could meet again, and that she regrets that she was 'shut out' of Lodge's lectures on electricity.
/2 Manuscript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from The Fosters, Hendon N. W., 3 June 1900. Welby knows Lodge will be in London and asks that they might organise to meet, as she is in Hendon.
/3 Manuscript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from The Fosters, Hendon N. W., 12 February 1901. Welby writes that she believes Lodge's recent 'lecture to teachers' is working alongside her own theories of Significs, and that she wishes soon to submit a practical proposal abut the application of significs in teaching and childhood learning. She also asks Lodge to read and disseminate a parable sent to her by [Robert Heron Spear], a 23-year-old science [chemistry] master who she believes shows promise in the field. Welby adds that she wants to see Lodge, and hopes it will be possible after she has moved to Harrow.
/4 Manuscript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from The Fosters, Hendon N. W., 12 March 1901.Welby thanks Lodge for sending her a letter in praise of the recently deceased Professor [George Francis] Fitzgerald, and Welby expresses her regret at not knowing him. Welby also writes about her aspirations to publish some of her work - and adds that she has new enthusiasm with her new assistant, and feels there is a 'new eager spirit in the air'.
/5 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 8 April 1904. Welby gives her opinions on the Gospels and their significance in Christian theology, discussing mysticism, and its interraction with understanding of physics and biology, the Virgin birth, and evolution. Welby comments on a recent article by W. F. Alexander which she believes to be flawed, and requests that she and Lodge might meet in London soon to share ideas.
/6 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 21 July 1904. Welby tells Lodge that she has recently been asked to proof-read many articles by prominent contemporary thinkers including Professors [George Frederick] Stout, [Edward Bagnall] Poulton and [John] Cook Wilson, and that she would be pleased to read anything of Lodge's. She also critiques some theological thought, highlighting 'linguistic dogma' within both the study of theology and science, and draws attention to the contribution of her own brand of theology - 'Significs'. Welby adds that she enclosed some of her own notes - including some which she was recently asked to contribute to a lecture on eugenics by [Francis] Galton.
/7 Typescript page entitled 'Notes on 'Religion, Science and Miracle': Sir O. Lodge, Comtemp. Rev., Dec. 1904'. Signed by Victoria Welby. Welby's notes on religion and philosophy in response to Lodge's article published in the Contemporary Review. She discusses organised religion, human consciousness, and the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.
/8 Manuscript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 9 January 1905. Welby thanks Lodge for his writing, and highlights some recent articles published in the 'Hibbert' [Journal] which she was impressed with, and which connected to her own work on Significs.
/9 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 14 March 1905, with manuscript additions. Welby has read what Lodge has written to the Synthetic Society, and she summarises that both of them are fully dedicated to helping others gain a 'simpler and clearer... [and] truer view of the great problems of life'. She laments that Lodge did not see the point of her most recent published book [likely 'What Is Meaning? Studies in the Development of Significance', 1903], and that the 'defeating restrictions' of language are to blame. Welby also comments that she believes young people and children have the most accurate grip on 'meaning' in terms of interpreting philosophical, theological and religious thought.
/10 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 29 April 1906. Welby writes about the intersection of religion and science, describing Lodge and other 'men of science' as 'the priests of that Nature wh[ich] includes the divine'. She discusses the ways in which she believes plant physiology and studies of animal behaviour will influence future scientific discoveries about the human mind, 'telepathy' and individualism. She also briefly mentions the death of Pierre Curie in April 1906.
/11 Typescript page entitled 'Converting Christ', 19 January 1907. Possible sermon text, concerning interpretation of Christian sacred text and the role of Jesus Christ.
/12 Typescript page entitled 'An Impersonal History and its Interpretation', 2 February 1907. Possibly written by Welby, this appears to be an abstract contemplation of the intersection of science and religion, the continual evolution understanding through science and technology, and human mortality.
/13 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 24 February 1907, with manuscript additions. Welby writes that she was unsure if she would hear from Lodge, as they have both been so busy, and tells him that she will write to 'Princess Karadja', who Lodge
suggested shared ideas with Welby and her writing. Welby also discusses her reluctance to publish again, but adds that she has recently received a number of letters praising her work on 'Significs' and encouraging her to consider publishing again. She also adds a manuscript note to the end of the letter, explaining that she is no longer able to visit London, but that 'interesting people' come instead to her.
/14 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 15 March 1907. Welby writes that she has read Lodge's 'Catechism' carefully and conveys some of her thoughts to Lodge, including comments on her own publication 'What is Meaning', and ideas about the consciousness and 'cosmic significance' of humankind.
/15 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby [to Oliver Lodge], written from Duneaves, Harrow, 4 June 1907. Welby expresses regret that she has lost touch with Lodge, and writes about her desire to be useful to the scientific endeavour. She tells Lodge that she has recently translated the appeals of 'Paul of Tarsus' for her grandson, but that several people have urged her to have it published in the Hibbert Journal - which she tells Lodge it will be. Welby also discusses her own coined expression the 'Mother-Sense', and the open-minded and flexible nature of children's thought and understanding. She asks that Lodge will come to visit her one Sunday so they can discuss this further in relation to Lodge's catechisms. Finally, Welby writes that her 'whole work' is now being edited with the intention of publication, meaning she will be refraining from sending her papers to friends in the post from now on. Despite this, she writes that she enclosed a few papers for Lodge [not enclosed].
/16 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 6 June 1907. Welby hopes that the papers she enclosed to Lodge prove helpful to him, and discusses again the concept of children and scientific and philosophical understanding. She also stresses that she is not claiming a new and different source of inspiration which she is imposing on Lodge and others' research - rather, she aims to supplement others' work from a 'Significs' point of view.
/17 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 13 June 1907. Welby writes that she has continued to enjoy and be moved by Lodge's 'catechism'. She also writes about catechising young children, and tells Lodge that her papers on 'the Mother sense' are being collated and summarised for publication.
/18 Typescript page entitled 'The Divine Appeal through Childhood', 8 August 1907. A written piece concerning Welby's concept, 'mother-sense', childhood philosophical and spiritual understanding, and the religious education of children.
/19 Manuscript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 9 July 1907. Welby commends Lodge's paper on Free Will. She also discusses Lodge going to visit George Bernard Shaw, and wishes that she would be able to meet and discuss with him, but she believes she is held back by her deafness. Also included is a printed enclosure entitled 'Don Juan in Hell' and a stamped and addressed envelope.
/20 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 1 December 1908. Welby writes that she has carefully read and annotated Lodge's recent publication, 'Man and the Universe' (1908). She discusses the themes of the work at length, conveying her admiration of it, but adds that she is skeptical about the spiritual 'seance' element.
/21 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Duneaves, Harrow, 18 February 1910. Welby writes that she and Lodge have not communicated for a length of time, and she reflects on and analyses topics discussed in Lodge's recent publication in 'The Fortnightly Review', 'The Responsibility of Authors' in February 1910.
/22 Typescript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Morar, Invernessshire, 6 September 1911. Welby writes that at Lodge's request, W. Collins has sent her a copy of his address discussing Physic and Metaphysic. Welby discusses topics of Significs, reality, childhood and metaphysics.
/23 Manuscript letter from Victoria Welby to Oliver Lodge, written from Station Hotel, Morar, Invernessshire, 13 September 1911. Welby writes that she has remained in Scotland since her last letter due to the high temperatures in England [resulting from the 1911 heatwave]. Welby also writes that she has corresponded with [W. Jacks] who has invited her to write another article, on the religious aspects of Significs, and she discusses her recent research and reading into related scientific and philosophical subjects. Welby wishes that she and Lodge could meet again 'whilst [she has] any sense left'. |