James Ralston Skinner - Revision history

Janet Kerschner: /* Additional resources */

2025-12-19T02:21:11Z

Additional resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:21, 19 December 2025
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	== Additional resources ==		== Additional resources ==

	* "Part III: Source of Measures" or '''"Art Speech"'''. This '''unpublished manuscript''' is in the Archives at the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)\|Theosophical Society in Adyar, India]]. [[Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa\| C. Jinarājadāsa]] wrote about this work in ''The Theosophist'' of August, 1923. The first page is entitled "Introduction: Giving a Key of Formation of An Ancient Language". The last page says "I end this closing section of my work on Monday the 18th day of February, 1884 on the retiring of the flood water of the Ohio at 12n. I, Ralston Skinner, Jany. 10, 1887 shall send this original MSS to Madame Blavatsky Ostend." CJ's article also includes a table of contents for the manuscript.		=== Articles ===

			=== Books and pamphlets ===

			* '''''Index of Hebrew and numerical terms contained in The source of measures by J. Ralston Skinner''''' by John H. Drais. San Diego: Wizards Bookshelf, 1982.

			=== Archival collections ===
			* "Part III: Source of Measures" or '''"Art Speech"'''. This '''unpublished manuscript''' is in the Archives at the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)\|Theosophical Society in Adyar, India]]. [[Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa\| C. Jinarājadāsa]] wrote about this work in ''The Theosophist'' of August, 1923. The first page is entitled "Introduction: Giving a Key of Formation of An Ancient Language". The last page says "I end this closing section of my work on Monday the 18th day of February, 1884 on the retiring of the flood water of the Ohio at 12n. I, Ralston Skinner, Jany. 10, 1887 shall send this original MSS to Madame Blavatsky Ostend." CJ's article also includes a table of contents for the manuscript. More information about '''unpublished manuscripts''' is available in ''Blavatsky Collected Writings'' Volume XIII, pages 404-405.
	* '''[https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/12/resources/966 "Skinner, J. Ralston (James Ralston), 1853-1887"]'''. Personal papers at Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard University. This collection includes '''six letters from H. P. Blavatsky'''.		* '''[https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/12/resources/966 "Skinner, J. Ralston (James Ralston), 1853-1887"]'''. Personal papers at Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard University. This collection includes '''six letters from H. P. Blavatsky'''.
	* More information about '''unpublished manuscripts''' is available in ''Blavatsky Collected Writings'' Volume XIII, pages 404-405.
	* '''Correspondence with Edwin Markham''' in Markham Manuscript Collection, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY.		* '''Correspondence with Edwin Markham''' in Markham Manuscript Collection, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY.
	* '''Papers of Salmon Portland Chase''', 1755-1874. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.		* '''Papers of Salmon Portland Chase''', 1755-1874. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.
	* '''''Index of Hebrew and numerical terms contained in The source of measures by J. Ralston Skinner''''' by John H. Drais. San Diego: Wizards Bookshelf, 1982.

	=== Video ===		=== Video ===

Janet Kerschner at 02:18, 19 December 2025

2025-12-19T02:18:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:18, 19 December 2025
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	* '''Papers of Salmon Portland Chase''', 1755-1874. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.		* '''Papers of Salmon Portland Chase''', 1755-1874. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.
	* '''''Index of Hebrew and numerical terms contained in The source of measures by J. Ralston Skinner''''' by John H. Drais. San Diego: Wizards Bookshelf, 1982.		* '''''Index of Hebrew and numerical terms contained in The source of measures by J. Ralston Skinner''''' by John H. Drais. San Diego: Wizards Bookshelf, 1982.

			=== Video ===
			* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp1dPnGEQX0 H. P. Blavatsky’s “Christmas Letter” to James Ralston Skinner] by James A. Santucci. Presented by the Theosophical Society in America on December 18, 2025.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

SysopJ: /* Writings */

2024-02-15T02:12:13Z

Writings

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:12, 15 February 2024
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	* '''''Some Light Upon the Egyptian Method of Chronology'''''. 1876. 11-page pamphlet.		* '''''Some Light Upon the Egyptian Method of Chronology'''''. 1876. 11-page pamphlet.
	* '''''Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures Originating the British Inch and the Ancient Cubit'''''. Cincinnati, R. Clarke & Co., 1875. Available at [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007695973?type%5B%5D=all&lookfor%5B%5D=Skinner%2C%20J%20Ralston&ft=ft HathiTrust] and [https://archive.org/details/keytohebrewegyp00skingoog Internet Archive]. The author discusses a square arrangement of the zodiac.		* '''''Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures Originating the British Inch and the Ancient Cubit'''''. Cincinnati, R. Clarke & Co., 1875. Available at [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007695973?type%5B%5D=all&lookfor%5B%5D=Skinner%2C%20J%20Ralston&ft=ft HathiTrust] and [https://archive.org/details/keytohebrewegyp00skingoog Internet Archive]. The author discusses a square arrangement of the zodiac.
	** New high-quality hardcover edition: 2023 from Mecosta, Mich.: Wizards Bookshelf, 2023.		** New high-quality hardcover edition: 2023 from Mecosta, Mich.: Wizards Bookshelf, 2023. Available at [https://wizardsbookshelf.com/ this website].
	* '''''Supplement to Source of Measures'''''. Robert Clarke & Company, 1876. 63 pages.		* '''''Supplement to Source of Measures'''''. Robert Clarke & Company, 1876. 63 pages.
	* '''''The Crown Jewels of the Nations are Their Measures'''''. Cincinnati: Clarke & Company, 1877. 90 pages.		* '''''The Crown Jewels of the Nations are Their Measures'''''. Cincinnati: Clarke & Company, 1877. 90 pages.

SysopJ: /* Writings */

2024-02-15T02:10:09Z

Writings

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:10, 15 February 2024
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	* '''''Some Light Upon the Egyptian Method of Chronology'''''. 1876. 11-page pamphlet.		* '''''Some Light Upon the Egyptian Method of Chronology'''''. 1876. 11-page pamphlet.
	* '''''Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures Originating the British Inch and the Ancient Cubit'''''. Cincinnati, R. Clarke & Co., 1875. Available at [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007695973?type%5B%5D=all&lookfor%5B%5D=Skinner%2C%20J%20Ralston&ft=ft HathiTrust] and [https://archive.org/details/keytohebrewegyp00skingoog Internet Archive]. The author discusses a square arrangement of the zodiac.		* '''''Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures Originating the British Inch and the Ancient Cubit'''''. Cincinnati, R. Clarke & Co., 1875. Available at [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007695973?type%5B%5D=all&lookfor%5B%5D=Skinner%2C%20J%20Ralston&ft=ft HathiTrust] and [https://archive.org/details/keytohebrewegyp00skingoog Internet Archive]. The author discusses a square arrangement of the zodiac.
	** New edition: 2023 from Mecosta, Mich.: Wizards Bookshelf, 2023.		** New high-quality hardcover edition: 2023 from Mecosta, Mich.: Wizards Bookshelf, 2023.
	* '''''Supplement to Source of Measures'''''. Robert Clarke & Company, 1876. 63 pages.		* '''''Supplement to Source of Measures'''''. Robert Clarke & Company, 1876. 63 pages.
	* '''''The Crown Jewels of the Nations are Their Measures'''''. Cincinnati: Clarke & Company, 1877. 90 pages.		* '''''The Crown Jewels of the Nations are Their Measures'''''. Cincinnati: Clarke & Company, 1877. 90 pages.

SysopJ: /* Writings */

2024-02-15T02:07:50Z

Writings

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:07, 15 February 2024
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	* '''''Some Light Upon the Egyptian Method of Chronology'''''. 1876. 11-page pamphlet.		* '''''Some Light Upon the Egyptian Method of Chronology'''''. 1876. 11-page pamphlet.
	* '''''Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures Originating the British Inch and the Ancient Cubit'''''. Cincinnati, R. Clarke & Co., 1875. Available at [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007695973?type%5B%5D=all&lookfor%5B%5D=Skinner%2C%20J%20Ralston&ft=ft HathiTrust] and [https://archive.org/details/keytohebrewegyp00skingoog Internet Archive]. The author discusses a square arrangement of the zodiac.		* '''''Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures Originating the British Inch and the Ancient Cubit'''''. Cincinnati, R. Clarke & Co., 1875. Available at [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007695973?type%5B%5D=all&lookfor%5B%5D=Skinner%2C%20J%20Ralston&ft=ft HathiTrust] and [https://archive.org/details/keytohebrewegyp00skingoog Internet Archive]. The author discusses a square arrangement of the zodiac.
			** New edition: 2023 from Mecosta, Mich.: Wizards Bookshelf, 2023.
	* '''''Supplement to Source of Measures'''''. Robert Clarke & Company, 1876. 63 pages.		* '''''Supplement to Source of Measures'''''. Robert Clarke & Company, 1876. 63 pages.
	* '''''The Crown Jewels of the Nations are Their Measures'''''. Cincinnati: Clarke & Company, 1877. 90 pages.		* '''''The Crown Jewels of the Nations are Their Measures'''''. Cincinnati: Clarke & Company, 1877. 90 pages.

SysopJ: /* Connections with the Theosophical Society */

2023-02-08T15:45:41Z

Connections with the Theosophical Society

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:45, 8 February 2023
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	In a letter to Buck, where Blavatsky tells him "I lost Mr. Skinner's address so please pass him on this enclosed volume," she states:		In a letter to Buck, where Blavatsky tells him "I lost Mr. Skinner's address so please pass him on this enclosed volume," she states:

	<blockquote>He is the grandest man & mind (in the direction of the occult) I know of at present; a natural born genius & helped beyond any doubt. I don't say "helped" mind you, in discovering in his independent research what he has, but helped from the lethal effects & influences of his discoveries. He would have become, uninitiated as he is, insane long ago, or dead or strangled at night under the pretext of an apoplexy – had it not been for the helping & watching hand above him; not of one of our masters but of a Dhyan Chohan, a Planetary - the rarest thing possible, & whom I verily fear he mistakes for God instead of a god-partie & conditioned on his plane. This I know from masters who spoke of him when I was yet at Adyar, referring to him as the "Ohio-Kabbalist & mathematician" – & that I had never heard his name even. Funny I should have never heard of him or his book when in America. His intuitional powers are as marvelous as his mathematical knowledge, indeed.<ref>[https://blavatskynews2.blogspot.de/2017/05/blavatsky-letter-to-j-ralston-skinner.html Blavatsky Letter to J. Ralston Skinner] at Blavatsky News 2.0</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>He is the grandest man & mind (in the direction of the occult) I know of at present; a natural born genius & helped beyond any doubt. I don't say "helped" mind you, in discovering in his independent research what he has, but helped from the lethal effects & influences of his discoveries. He would have become, uninitiated as he is, insane long ago, or dead or strangled at night under the pretext of an apoplexy – had it not been for the helping & watching hand above him; not of one of our masters but of a [[Dhyan Chohan]], a Planetary - the rarest thing possible, & whom I verily fear he mistakes for God instead of a god-partie & conditioned on his plane. This I know from masters who spoke of him when I was yet at Adyar, referring to him as the "Ohio-Kabbalist & mathematician" – & that I had never heard his name even. Funny I should have never heard of him or his book when in America. His intuitional powers are as marvelous as his mathematical knowledge, indeed.<ref>[https://blavatskynews2.blogspot.de/2017/05/blavatsky-letter-to-j-ralston-skinner.html Blavatsky Letter to J. Ralston Skinner] at Blavatsky News 2.0</ref></blockquote>

	Buck encouraged Skinner to write to HPB to ask whether Sanskrit was an older language than Hebrew:		Buck encouraged Skinner to write to HPB to ask whether Sanskrit was an older language than Hebrew:

SysopJ: /* Connections with the Theosophical Society */

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Connections with the Theosophical Society

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:32, 8 February 2023
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	[[File:HPB note to Skinner on photo1887.jpg\|right\|280px\|thumb\|HPB note to JRS on her photograph]]		[[File:HPB note to Skinner on photo1887.jpg\|right\|280px\|thumb\|HPB note to JRS on her photograph]]
	== Connections with the Theosophical Society ==		== Connections with the Theosophical Society ==

			In the 1880s and 1890s, Cincinnati was a hotbed of esoteric research and activity. It was there that the [[Cincinnati Theosophical Society]], one of the first American lodges, was founded by [[Jirah Dewey Buck]] on [[May 9]], 1886, and later that year on [[October 30]] the [[American Section]] of the [[Theosophical Society]] took form. The records of the Cincinnati lodge from 1878-1901 make no mention of Skinner as a member or lecturer, although there is one letter from Skinner to Buck dated September 4, 1887.<ref>Cincinnati Theosophical Society Records. Records Series 20.02.01. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref> There is also evidence that Skinner participated in the life of the Cincinnati TS, at least by lecturing. In July 1887, [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']] reported:
			<blockquote>
			CINCINNATI. At a recent meeting of this Branch, Bro. J. Ralston Skinner <sub></sub><sup></sup><sub>*</sub> read a valuable paper on ''Cycles of Time''. On this subject Bro. Skinner is an authority.<ref>Anonymous, "Some Theosophical Statistics" ''The Path'' 2 (July, 1887), 124.</ref>
			</blockquote>

	[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] was definitely aware of Skinner, and impressed with his work. Dr. Buck recorded that:		[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]] was definitely aware of Skinner, and impressed with his work. Dr. Buck recorded that:
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	I sent her a complete copy in Mss. of J. R. Skinner's work on ''Kabala'', ''the Zodiac, '' and the ''Great Pyramid of Gheza''; from which Mss. (still unpublished) she made copious quotations in four places in her [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|''Secret Doctrine'']]. She wrote me that there are ''seven Keys to Kabala'', of which Mr. Skinner had discovered "''two and a half''".<ref>Jirah Dewey Buck, ''Modern World Movements'' (Chicago: Indo-American Book Co., 1913), 39-40. Available at [http://blavatskyarchives.com/theosophypdfs/buck_modern_world_movements_1913.pdf Blavatsky Archives.]</ref>		I sent her a complete copy in Mss. of J. R. Skinner's work on ''Kabala'', ''the Zodiac, '' and the ''Great Pyramid of Gheza''; from which Mss. (still unpublished) she made copious quotations in four places in her [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|''Secret Doctrine'']]. She wrote me that there are ''seven Keys to Kabala'', of which Mr. Skinner had discovered "''two and a half''".<ref>Jirah Dewey Buck, ''Modern World Movements'' (Chicago: Indo-American Book Co., 1913), 39-40. Available at [http://blavatskyarchives.com/theosophypdfs/buck_modern_world_movements_1913.pdf Blavatsky Archives.]</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
			In a letter to Buck, where Blavatsky tells him "I lost Mr. Skinner's address so please pass him on this enclosed volume," she states:

			<blockquote>He is the grandest man & mind (in the direction of the occult) I know of at present; a natural born genius & helped beyond any doubt. I don't say "helped" mind you, in discovering in his independent research what he has, but helped from the lethal effects & influences of his discoveries. He would have become, uninitiated as he is, insane long ago, or dead or strangled at night under the pretext of an apoplexy – had it not been for the helping & watching hand above him; not of one of our masters but of a Dhyan Chohan, a Planetary - the rarest thing possible, & whom I verily fear he mistakes for God instead of a god-partie & conditioned on his plane. This I know from masters who spoke of him when I was yet at Adyar, referring to him as the "Ohio-Kabbalist & mathematician" – & that I had never heard his name even. Funny I should have never heard of him or his book when in America. His intuitional powers are as marvelous as his mathematical knowledge, indeed.<ref>[https://blavatskynews2.blogspot.de/2017/05/blavatsky-letter-to-j-ralston-skinner.html Blavatsky Letter to J. Ralston Skinner] at Blavatsky News 2.0</ref></blockquote>

	Buck encouraged Skinner to write to HPB to ask whether Sanskrit was an older language than Hebrew:		Buck encouraged Skinner to write to HPB to ask whether Sanskrit was an older language than Hebrew:
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	He had, with every resource and facility, been working on these lines for a quarter of a century, and he "''knew"''. from that day to the day of his death his admiration for, and confidence in, H. P. B. were little less than reverence.		He had, with every resource and facility, been working on these lines for a quarter of a century, and he "''knew"''. from that day to the day of his death his admiration for, and confidence in, H. P. B. were little less than reverence.

	When later I suggested to H.P.B. that a little memento from her would be most highly prized, she sent him a ring, which he wore till the day of his death, as his most "~~previous~~ Jewel".<ref>Buck, ''Modern World Movements'', 40-41.</ref>		When later I suggested to H.P.B. that a little memento from her would be most highly prized, she sent him a ring, which he wore till the day of his death, as his most "precious Jewel".<ref>Buck, ''Modern World Movements'', 40-41.</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	Skinner's writings on [[Jehovah]] were quoted in Blavatsky's book [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)\|''The Theosophical Glossary'']], with additional references to his ideas in [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|''The Secret Doctrine'']]. However, he does not seem to have been a member of the [[Theosophical Society]] of which she was a Founder.		Skinner's writings on [[Jehovah]] were quoted in Blavatsky's book [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)\|''The Theosophical Glossary'']], with additional references to his ideas in [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|''The Secret Doctrine'']]. However, he does not seem to have been a member of the [[Theosophical Society]] of which she was a Founder.

	In the 1880s and 1890s, Cincinnati was a hotbed of activity. It was there that the [[Cincinnati Theosophical Society]], one of the first American lodges, was founded by [[Jirah Dewey Buck]] on [[May 9]], 1886, and later that year on [[October 30]] the [[American Section]] of the [[Theosophical Society]] took form. The records of the Cincinnati lodge from 1878-1901 make no mention of Skinner as a member or lecturer, although there is one letter from Skinner to Buck dated September 4, 1887.<ref>Cincinnati Theosophical Society Records. Records Series 20.02.01. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref> There is also evidence that Skinner participated in the life of the Cincinnati TS, at least by lecturing. In July 1887, [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']] reported:
	~~<blockquote>~~
	CINCINNATI. At a recent meeting of this Branch, Bro. J. Ralston Skinner <sub></sub><sup></sup><sub>*</sub> read a valuable paper on ''Cycles of Time''. On this subject Bro. Skinner is an authority.<ref>Anonymous, "Some Theosophical Statistics" ''The Path'' 2 (July, 1887), 124.</ref>
	~~</blockquote>~~

	~~In a letter to Buck, where Blavatsky tells him "I lost Mr. Skinner's address so please pass him on this enclosed volume," she states:~~

	<blockquote>He is the grandest man & mind (in the direction of the occult) I know of at present; a natural born genius & helped beyond any doubt. I don't say "helped" mind you, in discovering in his independent research what he has, but helped from the lethal effects & influences of his discoveries. He would have become, uninitiated as he is, insane long ago, or dead or strangled at night under the pretext of an apoplexy – had it not been for the helping & watching hand above him; not of one of our masters but of a Dhyan Chohan, a Planetary - the rarest thing possible, & whom I verily fear he mistakes for God instead of a god-partie & conditioned on his plane. This I know from masters who spoke of him when I was yet at Adyar, referring to him as the "Ohio-Kabbalist & mathematician" – & that I had never heard his name even. Funny I should have never heard of him or his book when in America. His intuitional powers are as marvelous as his mathematical knowledge, indeed.<ref>[https://blavatskynews2.blogspot.de/2017/05/blavatsky-letter-to-j-ralston-skinner.html Blavatsky Letter to J. Ralston Skinner] at Blavatsky News 2.0</ref></blockquote>

	== Freemasonry ==		== Freemasonry ==

SysopJ: /* Freemasonry */

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Freemasonry

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:28, 8 February 2023
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	I was present when, as already recorded in ''"Life and Action"'', Mr. Skinner took his third Degree in the Blue Lodge. After theclose of the ceremony he was called on for a speech, and after "hedging" for two or three minutes, then, for an hour and a quarter, he read that Lodge-room, altar, symbols and ceremonies, "right out of the air".		I was present when, as already recorded in ''"Life and Action"'', Mr. Skinner took his third Degree in the Blue Lodge. After theclose of the ceremony he was called on for a speech, and after "hedging" for two or three minutes, then, for an hour and a quarter, he read that Lodge-room, altar, symbols and ceremonies, "right out of the air".

	This was more than a quarter of a century ago, and when at the close of the lodge, two or three 33° Masons asked me – "Where in the world did he get it all?" – I replied, "While you and I and the rest of us have been fooling with the ''corpse'', he has been studying the ''Living Soul'' of Masonry; and this Judgment has been confirmed every day since by my own studies.<ref>~~Jirah Dewey~~ Buck, ''Modern World Movements'' ~~(Chicago: Indo-American Book Co., 1913)~~, 41.</ref>		This was more than a quarter of a century ago, and when at the close of the lodge, two or three 33° Masons asked me – "Where in the world did he get it all?" – I replied, "While you and I and the rest of us have been fooling with the ''corpse'', he has been studying the ''Living Soul'' of Masonry; and this Judgment has been confirmed every day since by my own studies.<ref>Buck, ''Modern World Movements'', 41.</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

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Connections with the Theosophical Society

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == Connections with the Theosophical Society ==
-[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. Blavatsky]] was definitely aware of Skinner, and corresponded with him. Six letters and a photograph that he received from her are in a collection at Harvard University. A letter dated April 5, 1887 mentions that she will be sending him her photograph. On the back of the photo she wrote:
+[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. Blavatsky]] was definitely aware of Skinner, and impressed with his work. Dr. Buck recorded that:
 <blockquote>
 To her new acquaintance & correspondent &ndash; but very <u>very old friend</u>, Mr. Ralston Skinner with ever growing feelings of sympathy, admiration, appreciation & the warmest friendship &ndash; H. P. Blavatsky <sub>*</sub><sup>*</sup><sub>*</sub><br>
@@ Line 26: / Line 42: @@
 CINCINNATI. At a recent meeting of this Branch, Bro. J. Ralston Skinner <sub>*</sub><sup>*</sup><sub>*</sub> read a valuable paper on ''Cycles of Time''. On this subject Bro. Skinner is an authority.<ref>Anonymous, "Some Theosophical Statistics" ''The Path'' 2 (July, 1887), 124.</ref>
 </blockquote>
 In a letter to Buck, where Blavatsky tells him "I lost Mr. Skinner's address so please pass him on this enclosed volume," she states:

SysopJ at 15:04, 8 February 2023

2023-02-08T15:04:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:04, 8 February 2023
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	In the 1850s he married Louisa Wiggins, daughter of a wealthy banker, Samuel Wiggins. They had a son Samuel, born around 1858, and a daughter Laura the next year.<ref>U. S. Census records for 1860, 1870, 1880.</ref>		In the 1850s he married Louisa Wiggins, daughter of a wealthy banker, Samuel Wiggins. They had a son Samuel, born around 1858, and a daughter Laura the next year.<ref>U. S. Census records for 1860, 1870, 1880.</ref>

	On November 18, 1862, he enlisted in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He served as Judge-Advocate-General in the Battle of Stone's River campaign under Major General Rosecrans, with the rank of major. He resigned his commission on March 20, 1865.		On November 18, 1862, he enlisted in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He served as Judge-Advocate-General in the Battle of Stone's River campaign under Major General Rosecrans, with the rank of major. He resigned his commission on March 20, 1865; Robert Hinshaw reported "it is said that he temporarily lost his reason when a fellow soldier was decapitated by a cannon ball."<ref>Robert A. Hinshaw letter to Richard I. Robb. Ralston Skinner file. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>
	~~<blockquote>~~
	It is said that he temporarily lost his reason when a fellow soldier was decapitated by a cannon ball. In 1870 he was founding member of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, with which he was active throughout his life. About this time, he began to write for the Masonic Review on the subjects that occupied the remainder of his years... . Skinner was initiated into McMillan Lodge No. 141 at Cincinnati, of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, May 6, 1885.<ref>"Skinner, James Ralston"~~. ''Blavatsky Collected Writings'' Volume XIII, page 402-404.</ref>~~<ref>Robert A. Hinshaw letter to Richard I. Robb. Ralston Skinner file. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>
	~~</blockquote~~>

	Before he turned 50, Skinner retired from his legal practice. At that point his family was distinctly well-to-do, and his household had five servants and substantial assets, according to 1880 census records.<ref>U. S. Census records for 1880.</ref> He spent his remaining years writing, and passed away on [[September 2]], 1893.<ref>Robert A. Hinshaw letter to Richard I. Robb. Ralston Skinner file. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>		Skinner was always interested in science, and was a founding member of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History. Before he turned 50, Skinner retired from his legal practice. At that point his family was distinctly well-to-do, and his household had five servants and substantial assets, according to 1880 census records.<ref>U. S. Census records for 1880.</ref> He spent his remaining years writing, and passed away on [[September 2]], 1893.<ref>Robert A. Hinshaw letter to Richard I. Robb. Ralston Skinner file. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>

	[[File:HPB Skinner 1887.jpg\|220px\|thumb\|Photo HPB sent to JRS in 1887]]		[[File:HPB Skinner 1887.jpg\|220px\|thumb\|Photo HPB sent to JRS in 1887]]
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	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	CINCINNATI. At a recent meeting of this Branch, Bro. J. Ralston Skinner <sub></sub><sup></sup><sub>*</sub> read a valuable paper on ''Cycles of Time''. On this subject Bro. Skinner is an authority.<ref>Anonymous, "Some Theosophical Statistics" ''The Path'' 2 (July, 1887), 124.</ref>		CINCINNATI. At a recent meeting of this Branch, Bro. J. Ralston Skinner <sub></sub><sup></sup><sub>*</sub> read a valuable paper on ''Cycles of Time''. On this subject Bro. Skinner is an authority.<ref>Anonymous, "Some Theosophical Statistics" ''The Path'' 2 (July, 1887), 124.</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	Buck mentioned in his book ''Modern World Movements'' some conversations with Skinner about the Hebrew language ~~and correspondence with~~ [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|Madame Blavatsky]]~~. He also mentioned being present 25 years previously when Skinner took his third degree in the Masonic Lodge~~.<ref>See pages 40-41 in [http://blavatskyarchives.com/theosophypdfs/buck_modern_world_movements_1913.pdf Blavatsky Archives.]</ref>		Buck mentioned in his book ''Modern World Movements'' some conversations with Skinner about the Hebrew language. Buck encouraged Skinner to write to [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|Madame Blavatsky]], and her response.<ref>See pages 40-41 in [http://blavatskyarchives.com/theosophypdfs/buck_modern_world_movements_1913.pdf Blavatsky Archives.]</ref>

	In a letter to Buck, where Blavatsky tells him "I lost Mr. Skinner's address so please pass him on this enclosed volume," she states:		In a letter to Buck, where Blavatsky tells him "I lost Mr. Skinner's address so please pass him on this enclosed volume," she states:

	<blockquote>He is the grandest man & mind (in the direction of the occult) I know of at present; a natural born genius & helped beyond any doubt. I don't say "helped" mind you, in discovering in his independent research what he has, but helped from the lethal effects & influences of his discoveries. He would have become, uninitiated as he is, insane long ago, or dead or strangled at night under the pretext of an apoplexy – had it not been for the helping & watching hand above him; not of one of our masters but of a Dhyan Chohan, a Planetary - the rarest thing possible, & whom I verily fear he mistakes for God instead of a god-partie & conditioned on his plane. This I know from masters who spoke of him when I was yet at Adyar, referring to him as the "Ohio-Kabbalist & mathematician" – & that I had never heard his name even. Funny I should have never heard of him or his book when in America. His intuitional powers are as marvelous as his mathematical knowledge, indeed.<ref>[https://blavatskynews2.blogspot.de/2017/05/blavatsky-letter-to-j-ralston-skinner.html Blavatsky Letter to J. Ralston Skinner] at Blavatsky News 2.0</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>He is the grandest man & mind (in the direction of the occult) I know of at present; a natural born genius & helped beyond any doubt. I don't say "helped" mind you, in discovering in his independent research what he has, but helped from the lethal effects & influences of his discoveries. He would have become, uninitiated as he is, insane long ago, or dead or strangled at night under the pretext of an apoplexy – had it not been for the helping & watching hand above him; not of one of our masters but of a Dhyan Chohan, a Planetary - the rarest thing possible, & whom I verily fear he mistakes for God instead of a god-partie & conditioned on his plane. This I know from masters who spoke of him when I was yet at Adyar, referring to him as the "Ohio-Kabbalist & mathematician" – & that I had never heard his name even. Funny I should have never heard of him or his book when in America. His intuitional powers are as marvelous as his mathematical knowledge, indeed.<ref>[https://blavatskynews2.blogspot.de/2017/05/blavatsky-letter-to-j-ralston-skinner.html Blavatsky Letter to J. Ralston Skinner] at Blavatsky News 2.0</ref></blockquote>

			== Freemasonry ==

			Like Dr. Buck, Skinner was a Freemason.

			<blockquote>
			About this time [after the Civil War], he began to write for the Masonic Review on the subjects that occupied the remainder of his years... . Skinner was initiated into McMillan Lodge No. 141 at Cincinnati, of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, May 6, 1885.<ref>"Skinner, James Ralston". ''Blavatsky Collected Writings'' Volume XIII, page 402-404.</ref><ref>Robert A. Hinshaw letter to Richard I. Robb. Ralston Skinner file. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>
			</blockquote>

			Dr. Buck, himself widely recognized as an expert on Masonry, wrote:
			<blockquote>
			I was present when, as already recorded in ''"Life and Action"'', Mr. Skinner took his third Degree in the Blue Lodge. After theclose of the ceremony he was called on for a speech, and after "hedging" for two or three minutes, then, for an hour and a quarter, he read that Lodge-room, altar, symbols and ceremonies, "right out of the air".

			This was more than a quarter of a century ago, and when at the close of the lodge, two or three 33° Masons asked me – "Where in the world did he get it all?" – I replied, "While you and I and the rest of us have been fooling with the ''corpse'', he has been studying the ''Living Soul'' of Masonry; and this Judgment has been confirmed every day since by my own studies.<ref>Jirah Dewey Buck, ''Modern World Movements'' (Chicago: Indo-American Book Co., 1913), 41.</ref>
			</blockquote>

	== Writings ==		== Writings ==