Cincinnati Theosophical Society

The Cincinnati Theosophical Society was one of the earliest American branches of the Theosophical Society, formally known as The First Theosophical Society of Cincinnati.

Founding

The branch was formed on May 9, 1886 at the home of Dr. J. D. Buck on Oak Street. The founders of the group stated a desire "to place ourselves in Accord, and Association, with the Parent Society, now located and established at Adyar, Madras, India, and with other branches in Europe and America." At that point there was no national organization of Theosophists in the United States, so Cincinnati affiliated directly with Adyar. The group was very active and dedicated, studying The Secret Doctrine weekly for at least thirteen years.

Goodall Building

Theosophical Hall

In 1893, the group rented the seventh floor of the new Goodall Building, 324 W. Ninth Street, and established the Theosophical Hall that was used for public lectures. The dedication of the hall was honored by a visit from William Quan Judge, the Vice President of the international Theosophical Society; Annie Besant, then editor of Lucifer magazine; and Professor Ganandra Nath Chakravarti, who were on their way to Chicago for the World's Parliament of Religions. All three spoke to the Cincinnati members, who heard them again in Chicago on September 15-17 at the Theosophical Congress of the Parliament.For that excursion the Cincinnati members traveled on the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad at a cost of $7.00 per person.

Role in forming American Section

The Cincinnati group and especially Dr. Buck played a major role in establishing the American Section of the Theosophical Society when he chaired a convention held in his home on October 30, 1886.

1895 events

In 1895, when most branches (lodges) of the American Section voted to separate from the parent society in Adyar, the Cincinnati group also voted to follow William Quan Judge into establishment of a new national organization.