Reality.
A Bahai Magazine / An Independent Bahai Magazine / A Real Magazine for Real Purpose / The Universal Magazine Advocating the Elimination of Religious and Racial Discrimination. For Progressive and Constructive Thinkers.
A Real Magazine for Real People / The Oneness of Mankind
1919-1929 Monthly
New York, NY then Washington, DC. Language: English, with Abdul Bahai written in Arabic.
Editor: Eugene and Wandeyne Deuth; Dr. Harrison G. Dyar.
Publisher: Reality Publishing Co.
1/1, May 1919-17/4, April 1929.
$2.25-$3.00 a year, 44 pp.

The prospectus for the journal says that "its dominant spirit is 'Investigation.' To be sure, it calls special attention to the Bahai Revelation, because from a profound study of that Revelation it believes it to be worthy of a broader field of discussion and investigation than it has had heretofore. Reality also believes in this Revelation as embodying all forms of modern and ancient thought, with a special significance at this time." The Bahai religion had an enormous attraction for those attracted to New Thought, occultism, Theosophy, and eastern religions in the first quarter of the twentieth century because of its generally non-specific beliefs and association with actual, historical oriental sages. Contributions by Eugene del Mar, Arthur J. Reeder, Mary Hanford Ford (an exponent of man's primordial bi-sexuality), and others, and extensive advertisements for the whole spectrum of contemporary mages, healers, clairvoyants, mediums, peddlers of success, astrologers, etc. ("The Miracle Man of Chicago," "Christ-Way College of Occult Science, Incorporated," "The Aquarian Ministry," "School of the Chemistry of Life," "Prof. C. Braganza, The Prodigy of Occult Arts, Sciences and Psychic Phenomena," "Orcella Rexford, B.C., Color and Name Psychologist," "Dr. Edward L. Fernald's Regeneration System," "The College of Devine [sic] Metaphysics, Inc.").

Harrison Gray Dyar (1866-1929) became editor in 1922. He was a famous lepidopterist and noted bigamist who astonished Washington when the secret tunnels he had been constructing under Washington caused a truck to sink from sight under Dupont Circle. Under his guidance the journal first turned to attacks on the American Baha'i leadership and then became a magazine of more general progressive interest, although it continued to carry articles by the likes of Louise B. Brownell, Julia Seton, Jules Bois, and advertisements for A.B. Saliger's Psychophone, the Alpha-Mathe Scale (Alphamathology) for judging vibrations and cycles, "Talismanic Magic," the Magixy patented Concentrator, Master-pathic Science, Gazing Crystals, the Council of Seven of West Creek, New Jersey, George Chainey's magazines, AMORC, etc. Noted in William C. Hartmann's Who's Who in Occult, Psychic and Spiritual Realms (1925). LOC.

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