Seth Pancoast

Dr. Seth Pancoast, M.D., of Philadelphia was according to Col. Olcott "a most erudite Kabbalist". He present at meeting of September 7, 1875, that eventually lead to the forming of the Theosophical Society. Although his name is not among the sixteen people that the next day met to form the Society, he was elected as Vice-President on the meeting held on October 30, previous to the inaugural one on November 17. He was also present at the cremation of Baron de Palm.

According to Josephine Ransom,

DR. SETH PANCOAST, of Philadelphia, was a theistic mystic and a great alchemist. He was an ex-professor of a medical college and author of medical works. The kabala was the study of his life. he had collected a very valuable library of occult books. he wrote a notable work on the therapeutic and occult properties of the blue and red rays of the spectrum. he was present at Felt's lecture and questioned him closely. H.P.B. always spoke with great respect of his erudition But when it came to putting theory to the test by evoking the unseen elemental races which guard the threshold of knowledge, he confessed he lacked courage, though H.P.B. frequently offered to assist in the ceremonies and, if necessary, face the worst of the phantoms alone. Under the names of "Lex" and "Lex et Lux" he wrote for the Spiritualistic papers on kabalistic and other matters. He remained a member till he passed away in 1889.

On of the books in his personal collection was Cabala, Speculum Artis Et Naturae, in Alchemia printed by Andrea Erffurt in Augusburg Germany in 1654.