Francis Grierson [pseud. of Jesse Shepard]

Life
1848-1929; b. Birkenhead, England; emigrated with family to US, and settled in Illinois; travelled to Europe in 1869, at behest of his own ‘intuitive’ musical talent; played before the Czar in St. Petersberg, 1871; acted as secretary and companion of Lawrence W. Tonner, for 20 years from c.1885; visited San Diego in 1876, and returned ten years later; established First Spiritualist Society with others, San Diego, 1886; associated with The Golden Era journal; repudiated Spiritualism in 1887; veered towards Catholicism and wrote on Abbé Joseph Roux (of Meditations); travelled to Paris with Tonner; resided at Villa Montezuma, built for his salons by William and John High, wealthy ranchers who had fallen under his influence; sold up and left San Diego, 1891; as “Francis Grierson”, issued Modern Mysticism (1899), also The Celtic Temperament and Other Essays (1901); Villa Montezuma now used as Arts Centre.

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References
Hyland Book (Cat. 221) lists “Francis Grierson”, issued Modern Mysticism (London 1899); also The Celtic Temperament and Other Essays (1901). There is a website in San Diego [link]

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