Inner Group

The term Inner Group usually refers to the Inner Group of the Esoteric Section formed by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky in July 1890 to study the Arhat Esoteric Doctrine, or Eastern esotericism. Twelve men and women met with her regularly at Annie Besant’s house in 19 Avenue Road. There were twelve members, six men and six women. They were Countess Constance Wachtmeister, Mrs. Isabelle Cooper-Oakley, Miss Emily Kislingbury, Miss Laura M. Cooper, Mrs. Annie Besant, Mrs. Alice L. Cleather, Dr. Archibald Keightley, Mr. Herbert Coryn, Mr. Claude Falls Wright, Mr. G. R. S. Mead, Mr. E. T. Sturdy, and Mr. Walter Old. There were also two "outsiders" that had been specially invited, namely, Rai B. K. Laheri and Dr. William W. Westcott.

R. A. Gilbert wrote:

There were two more members of the I.G. whose names did not appear, who were not under the same strict Rules as we were, and who never attended its meetings. One [Rai B. K. Lahiri] could not, for the very good reason that he was a native of India and lived there. The other was Dr. Wynn Westcott.

Later two others were invited: J. D. Buck and W. Q. Judge.

The term was used previously by the London Lodge, which proposed in 1884 to form an Inner Group meeting at the home of A. P. Sinnett.