The Chicago Branch was founded the 27th of November, 1885, Stanley B. Sexton, President, No. 2 Park Row, Dr. W. Phelon, Corresponding Secretary, 629 W. Fulton.
Meetings are held every Sunday at 2 P. M. All the fellows except the President are a little over a year old in Theosophy. The President became an F. T. S. in 1879. One of the members is Rev. Mr. Hoisington, the blind lecturer on Egypt, who is one of our most earnest workers, and has been a Theosophist for many years.
We are all working with heart and soul for the spread of Theosophy.
The Branch in Malden, Massachusetts, originated in the spring of 1885, with a few persons who casually discovered that they had mutually had an interest in Theosophy. Informal meetings were held to discuss Theosophical subjects, and were conducted in this way without organization until December 27, when a formal organization was affected under the customary provisional charter from the American Board of Control. The name chosen was the Malden Branch, Theosophical Society. At the organization valuable assistance was rendered by Brothers Arthur H. Gebhard of New York, and Hollis B. Page and Charles R. Kendall of Boston. Two open meetings were held the past winter, at which addresses were made by Brothers William Q. Judge and Arthur H. Gebhard, respectively, and considerable outside interest was awakened. The members have devoted themselves chiefly to the spiritual, moral and philosophical aspects of the subject, and have laid little stress upon the phenomenal, and have discouraged marvel-seekers from membership. The President is Sylvester Baxter, and Frank S. Collins is Secretary.
The Society’s extent may be understood by the number and ramification of its branches, of which in India there are 106; in Europe, 7; in the United States, 9; in Australia, 1; and the West Indies, 1.
Boston has a Branch of the Society also. In various intellectual circles in the city there is much discussion of Theosophical literature, and in general, of the subject. Notwithstanding recent malicious attacks on our harmless and studious Brotherhood, the current of truth flowing through the Society’s channels makes itself felt in Boston.