The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 and today has its world headquarters at Adyar, Chennai, India. Its three principal founders were Helena P. Blavatsky, a Russian noblewoman, Henry S. Olcott, a retired Civil War Colonel, and William Q. Judge, an Irish lawyer.
Membership is open to all accepting the Society's three declared objects, namely:
1. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour
2. To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science
3. To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.
The annual subscription in the English Section of the Society is £34 (£17 students, pensioners & the unemployed.) Financial hardship shall not be a barrier to membership.
Branches: There are 38 branches belonging to The Theosophical Society in England. Regular meetings are organized at 50 Gloucester Place by Blavatsky Lodge and Dhyana Centre.
Library: We have a large collection of books for loan covering topics such as Theosophy, Astrology, Mythology, Comparative Religion and Western Occultism. Subscriptions from £12; postal lending available. Open: Tuesdays to Fridays: 2.00 - 6.30 pm; Sundays: 4.00 - 8.30 pm when there is an evening lecture. Contact the librarian on 020 7563 9816.
Bookshop: On the ground floor we have the UK's largest selection of theosophical works, by authors such as H. P. Blavatsky, W. Q. Judge, Annie Besant and G. de Purucker. Opening hours/contact details as the Library.
Winter Closure: The offices at 50 Gloucester Place are closed Saturday 22 December 2007 - Tuesday 1 January 2008.
Audio Recordings: Many talks are generally recorded and may be purchased as MP3 files, CDs or cassette tapes at info@theosoc.org.uk. Private recording is not permitted.
Location: We are situated on the east side of Gloucester Place, between Blandford and Dorset Streets. Baker Street and Marble Arch are the nearest tube stations.
