Margaret B. Peeke

Margaret B. Peeke (, Peck; April 8, 1838 – November 2, 1908) was an American traveler, lecturer, and author of the long nineteenth century. In her early life, Peeke taught at a public school and her private school. Later, she taught Hermetic philosophy in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere (1893–98); visited Hermetic societies abroad (1898–99); and had an assembly of followers in Sandusky, Ohio. She served as Inspectress-General in the U.S. of the Martinist Order of France, and as treasurer of Light of France, Hermetic Society of France. She was a member of the Baháʼí Faith and of the Rose Cross Martinist Fraternity.

Early life and education Margaret Bloodgood Peck was born at Mechanicville, New York, (Peeke's 1908 obituary in the Rock Island Argus records her place of birth as Stillwater, Pennsylvania.)

She set aside her writing career for fifteen years to focus on family life and parish responsibilities. Later, when poor health required her to slow down, she returned to creative work, sending poems and short stories to a range of literary magazines.

In 1876, the family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Till 1882, Peeke was a part owner and served as associate editor of the Alliance, of Chicago. Her letters drew attention to her favorite summer resort in the Cumberland Mountains, and a little pamphlet entitled "Pomona" was her reply to many requests for information. This was followed by a serial story, "The Madonna of the Mountains", and other serial sketches of that region.

Peeke's short biography of George Lansing Raymond appeared in an 1890 volume of The Magazine of Poetry. Her college novel, titled Antrobus written while her son was in college in New England, was purchased by the Detroit Free Press and published as a serial in 1892, preparatory to a more permanent book form. She was involved in a work connected with the pygmies of America and the origin of the race; it was issued under the title Born of Flame (Philadelphia, 1892). During this time in her life, she also taught Bible classes.

Later, Peeke became a leader of the Martinist movement in the U.S., giving her entire time to this work.

Selected works Antrobus, 1892 Born of Flame: A Rosicrucian Story, 1892 Zenia, the Vestal, a Story of Occult Life, 1893 Soul development, or, Truth of all ages : taught by Margaret B. Peeke., 18-- (Text) Numbers & Letters: Or, The Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom, 1908 (Text) My Visit to Abbas-Effendi in 1899, 1911