CONCLUSION

Our Theo8ophical Society is the humble seed which. if watered and

le t live, w ill finally produce the Tree of Knowledge of GoO<! and Evi l
whi ch i. graft ed on the Tree of Life Eternal.
- H. P. B.
Hear one side and you will he in th e dark, hear both sides and all
wi ll be dear,l

n EADERS who have followed this chronicle of The Theo-

. ophical Society will have noted the care taken to give fairly
full lists of countries and towns visited by lecturers, and of
titles of lectures. This has been done to enable students
10 trace the course of the development of The Society
throughout the world, and the subjects which were used to
explain life's problems. to promote interest or to provoke
enqUiry. The lectures given at the Annual International
Co nventions in India were for many years the chief study of
the members. and were quickly translated into many lan-
guages. No sympathetic reader but would admit that much
o f the pioneer work of modern re-orientation of the outlook
in religion , sociology and science, etc., has been strongly
influenced by what may conveniently be called .. The
Theosophical point of view:' Materialism was encountered
lind overcome; separativeness has b een encountered and
vcry slowly yields to Brotherhood; ugliness is being en-
countered and will assuredly be replaced by Beauty.
Personal activities of leaders, and movements in which
lhcy engaged, show the wide sweep of the Theosophical
Movement. For instance, Dr. Besant's educational, social
I Haliburton, quoted by H. P. B. in The Seu:/ Doc/rlne, yo1. 4,
1), 36l.
544 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE THEOSOPHICA L SOCIETY

and political work in India enlisted the interest of thousands

of members and brought about great changes in the country's
progress. Incidents here and there are given, which, though
of little seeming significance at the moment, can, when
followed , be found to lead to important results.
The spirit of impa rtia lity has in all cases been striven for,
and the pros and cons of any majo r event given as fairly as may
be. Here and there details have been allowed , which, more
truly than any comment or arg ument, showed the value of a
situation. History is made up solely o f perso ns, their ideas,
the ir actions, and how these impress others and influence
and direct their lives . Therefore the actors, as they come
and go-or stay, find ing their life's work in The Society-
have b een allowed to express themselves, and the results are
shown in the activities and develo pment of The Society, and
the reactions of the world to The Society.
Care has been taken to observe Dr. Arundale's wish to
let" bygones be bygones," but some situations demanded
frank and clear treatment, if they were to be understood at
all; and it was necessary to give some attention to the
temperaments and outlook of the characters on the stage at
the moment. They m ade the history .
The times of "crisis" within the Society reveal interest-
ing and important struggles for liberty, for that freedom of
thought, speech and action which it cherishes as one of ita
highest ideals. In each crisis The Society has discovered a
new aspect of Freedom, a new pleasure in Tolerance, a more
understanding application of Brotherhood.
It is with confidence, therefore, that this HiMory is pre-
sented, in the hope that it will give insight into a great Move-
m ent which cannot be measured by statistics. which has
profoundly aHeeted thought for the past 63 years, and will
evidently go on doing so in the years to come ; for, as
Dr. Besant sa id: " It is true that The Theosophical Society
is not a stone image carved in 1891 , but a living tree, put-
ting forth new branches and new leaves ."
 OBJECTS AND RULES OF
THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

CHAPTER I

The title of the society is "THE T>lE<»OPHI ~"L SoCI ETY:'

CHAPTER II

The objects of th., society are, to collect and diffu se a knowledge of

lilt! InwlI which govern the unive rse.
Scrapbook. I. p. 71 : Golden Book. p. 23.
HlJ l.K3, 30 October

Hule I. The aificen of The Society shl'lll be ... President, 2 Vice-

Preoident •. a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Sec retary and. II.
loiL'lir;", n, T ."asUler and 5 Councillors. and Ih ese officer. together .. hall
10'''' the Council ol lhe Society.
Rule 2. The office rs of the Society shall be ch<»en from among its
fellows: they shall be elected annually by ballot. and "hall hold their
uffi".,. until othe r. a'" e lected in their pl.. ceo.
Rut" 4. No Fellow shill! at the same time hold 2 offices in the
Society ,

1877. RULE.'i: PRUIOE .. T'$ POWERS

In the 1896 R eport (p.5) Col. Olcott quotes a meeting held at 302,
We~t 47th St., N.Y., 16 J uly, settling the Presidenfs discretionary power.
10 authorise Branche... and the transference 01 Headquarters.

1678. RUI.E5
Col. Olcott mention9 a meeting. 27 Aug .• at which' it wasdecidecl
" he shall also have full pow"r and discretion to make such rules
and r"gulation ... and do such thin ~ as he may con9ider neceuary for th"
well ..." of the Society. and the accomplishment of the objects whi<:h it
represents. All Bye- Laws inconsistent with the above are hereby
repea led. (See 1896 Generol Report).
35
546 A SHORT H ISTORY OF THE THEOSOPH ICAL SOCIETY

CIRCUl.A1< printed for ·the Information of Correspondents. 3rd May:

111 . At fiut The Society was an open body. but later it was re·
organiRed on the principle of sec; rec;y. experienc;e having demonstrated the
advisability of euc;h "c;hange.
[V . [t3 feHows at" known a . Active. Correspondin g and Honor" ty .
Only those lOre admitted who ar" ,n sympathy with its object•• a nd
sinc"rely d".;re to aid in the promotion of the same.
V . Its Fell owship i. divided i"to three Sections and eBch Seclion
,nto three O"gr.."s
VI. The object. of th .. Society are va rious to ac;quire a n
intimate knowledge of natural law study to develop his la tent
powe... . exemplify th .. highest morality and religious aspiration . . .
to make known among W e stern nations . focl~ about orie ntal Tellgi.
ous philosophie s disseminate a kn owledg", of that pure es oteric;
system of the archaic period. and finally and c hiefly, aid in the institution
of a Brotherhood of Humanity . . of every race .
V II I. There a re b ranche. of the Parent Soci"ty in several c;ountriee
of the Ea,! and West.
Scrapbook, f: Colde" Book. p . 26.
1879. RULES
The fi rst re.draft of Rules was made at Bombay, end of Marc;h and
early April, and issued a s an Appendix to Col. Olc;ott'. flrat Indian lec;ture .
Th e scc;ond and mOB t extelUlive r e vision 01 the Rules took p lac;e a t
Benares in Oec;ember, 8S follows:
The Theosophic;a\ Soc;;e t y or Universal Brotherhood. F' orme<l at
New York. U.SA .. 30 Od .. 1875.
Prindplcs. R ule, a nd Bye.laws. aA re vised in the Gener,,1 Counc;i1 a t
the meeting held a t the Palac;e 01 H . H. the M ahar;'ja of Vi1<.ian agram,
Benare • . 17 Dec;.• 1879.
I. The Theosophic;al 50ciety is formed upon the basis of a Un iver·
aal Brotherhood of Hum"nity . . A Branc;h may be c;omposed solely of
c;o·rdigionists
II. The whole Society is under Ihe specilll c;lIOre of one Gene ... t
Coundl and of th e PTeaident of the Theosophic;al Society. its F'ounder.
who i. h imself subjed to the authority of a Supreme Counc;il Tepresentina-
the highest Sec;tion of the 5ociety.
III. the T heosophic,,\ Society, whos e H eadquarters are for tbe
time being in that locality w here the President · Founder may be.
V. Three members 01 the General Council form a quorum in a U
c;".e •.
V I. It is not lawful fo r any officer of the Pa re nt Society' to expre ••
by word o r ad. any hostility to. or p reference for, anyone Section .
, .. Parent Society " meant those who had not joined a Branch.
 OBJE.CTS AND RULES OF TH E. T. S. H7
, , And no of/icer of the Society, in his ClIopacity as an oUice r, hu the
"'ICI ,! 10 preach hi" own Sectarian views Rnd beliefs to membe.,. ....sem·
1,1",1, e >;cept when the meeting consiftts of his co-religionist.
V, ,,lflti on tn be punished with suspension or expulsion
VII . The President-Founder has authority to duignate any Fellow
"I cllpacity and good repute to perform. pro I~mpore. the dutie .. of Rny
..fllee He is al .. o empowered and requi red to define the duties of
. 11 " fficers, and assign specific responsibilities to Members of the Gene ral
)uncil, not in conflict with the gene ral plan.. of the Society .
Y J1I. The Society', plans ate declared to be as follows:
(0) To kee p alive in man his spiritual intuitions
(6) To oppose and counteract-after due investigation and proof
,,) 't. irrational nMur_bigotty in every furm . . .
(r) To promote II jed;n8 0/ Brolhu},I)(>J among nlllions .
(<I) To seek to obtain knowledge of all the laws of Nature lind. aid.
,n diffusing it; lind especially to encoUfllge the study of those law,least
"",Ierstood by modern people and so term ed the Occult Sciences.
{e} To gather for the Society', librllry and put into written form.
( orrect information on ancient phil..-oph'e,. etc.
(f) T o promote in every prllcticllble wily non-sectarian eduCllo-

(,) .. chielly. to encourage and IISs;st individual Fellowa in eel/-

Improvement, intellectual. moral and Spirilual.
X. The Parent Society. through the Preside nt·Founder, h"" the
, l,,"t 10 nullify any Charier for cause. and to decree the e"pulsion of IIny
f.'ellow of whalever Branch, for disgraceful conduct or the c ontumaciQU8
violation of the bye-laws oT rules .. None to be ...:pelled without given
opportunity for explanlltion
XI. The Sociely consists of three Sections. The higheat Or First
Section is composed. exdusiv ely 01 proficients or ini liates in Esoterie
Science and Philosophy. who take a deep intereal in the Society's affairs
n,nd inatruct the Pres ident-Founder how best to regulate them. but whom
none but such a s they voluntarily communiCllte with. have the right to
know.
XIV. Two Fellows nlual endorae the new cf\lldidate'~ appliea-
li on .. Afte r thr~ weeks he shall be i"vested with the sign s. words or
tokena of the third (probationary) Seclion . repea 6ng beloTe w;tnes.ses
IhM he will neither reveal th em to any improper person. nor divulge IIny
".her matter or thing relllting to the Society. especiaU)' its experiments i..
Oceult Sciences. which it is forbidden to disdose.
O.LICATIO,",
I _ _ an applieant for fellowahip in the T S . . do hereby
.,ive to the Presiden t individually, and to each and every one who i. now
548 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOC IETY

or may be accepted hereafter 11.8 a Fellow of the above Society. my most

solemn and sacred promioe that whataoever inlonnation connected with
the legitimate philosophical work or researches 01 the Society may be
communicated to me... s a member of the Society. with an intim.. tion Ihat
;t mU81 not be revealed. I will faithfully kee p secret. allowing no one.
under any pretext. or by any thre at or promise, to extort the same Irom
me. For the laithful performance of thi s promise, I do hereby, in the pre-
sence of th ese witnessM, pf~Jge my word of hOl>ouf.
Th ~ ThM1l>phi3/, June. 188 1, Supplement.

1880. RUI..E5
Rules of 1879 are re-aflirmed.-" defining joint guudianship of
the General Council and the President over the whole Society."

1881. OBJEcn
Revilled 17 February, Bombay :
I. T o form Ihe Nucleus of a Univer .... l Brotherhood 01 Humanity.
2. To study A ryan literature, religion and science.
3. To vindicate the importance of Ihis e nquiry and correct mis_
represe"",t;ons wilh which it has been clouded.
4. To explore the hidden mys teries of Nature snd Ihe latent power.
of Man. on which the Founders believe thai Orient.. 1 Philosophy
is in a position to throw light.
The Theo30phi.l. June. 1881. Supplemenl.
RUI-u
"Third revision (of Rules) was made 17 Feb. 1881. in The General
Council at Bombay." (See 1896 R eport, p. 9.1
5. By unanimous vote of the Council of Founders. the President and
ConeBponding Secretary- both Founder..-hold oflice for lile.
The term 01 all other office... is lor 1 year. or untillhei. luC_
cessors are appointed by the President-Founder.
8 and 9. Pore"/ Society still mentioned. but not defined.
See The Theo30phi3t, J une. 1881. Supplement.
18&5
Initiation ceremony and secret membership omitted from Revi~d
RuIM.
See Ge ,,~r,,1 Report, p. 68.

1886. 09JECTS
I. To fonn the nucleus of /I Univefllli Brotherhood. of Huma.nity,
without distinction 01 race, ere"d or colour.
2. To promote the 8tudy of Aryan and other Easl"rn literalur" ••
religion$ and science•.
 OBJECTS AND RULES Of THE T . S. 549
3. A third object, pursued by a portion of the members 01 the Society.
is to . investigate unexplained laws 01 nature and the p sychical
powers of man.
See G~n erol R~p<>rI. p. 78.
RULES
19. Membership is open to persons without distinction 018(:'" race.
creed or caste: but no As ia tic female and no person under 18
shall be admitte d . without the consent of legal guardian.
20. Fellows are of three classes., viz. Corre~ponding, Honorary and
Active.
24. A member cannot belong to more than one Branch at a time.
2S. The Society .. does not permit its members as Ju,h to interfere
with politics.
26. The Society being formed on a basis of Univer .... 1 Brotherhood
inculcates perrect tolerance.
27. No Fellow shall slander any TheOllophist.
' 886
"Executive authority ol President superseded and Rule 14 adopted."
General control and admini stration of the Society shall vest in one
General Council.
See General Report. p. 46.
'681
At Convention ( December), Revis ion of Rule I ,. (6) and (e), fc a
Budget being submitted 10 the Execuliv". also an inc ome and expenditure
account qusrt"rir.
R eport 0/ Comm/llee on Rule •• p. 3S.
Rule 2 . H . P. B. wrote (in 1886) that the present Rules and Statues
"Rrew ou t" of the rapid incr"ase 01 the Society. "They arc not the out·
come of the deliberate thought and whim of the President·Founder, but the
reBuit of the yearly meetings of the Ceneral Council."
Sec The neor.ophi./, June, 1924. p. 389.
1888. OBJECTS
1. To form the nucleus of 0 Universal Brotherhood or Humanity.
without dislinction of race, creed. xx. coue or colour.
2. To promote the study of Aryan and other E ..ste rn lite ratures.
religions, phfio.ophf~. and science..
3. A third object, pursued by a portion 01 the Fellows of the Society,
is to investigate unexplained laws 01 nature and the psychic
powers 01 man .
(Il,e Fellows inlereste d in thi. third object now lorm a distinct
private division of the Society under the direction of the Corresponding
Secretsry.)
550 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Ru~
There ift different wording of the remainder of Section A. but much
the Bame ide a.... except that "love 01 India and revival 01 her ancient
glories .. i. dropped out.
S~cll"" 8. Arrangement and numbering noW completely different.
4. Fellowship; the word" ward" is used ;nlead of "Asiatic female."
There is added: .. The only .ine quo nOn to admission is sympathy
with the objects and willingness to abide by the Rules.··
12. . , No Fellow shall be on roll of oc/lve members 01 more than one
Branch at once."
Important Revision; see e xplanation on p. 4:) (/ Ilq. in G l nl,ol
R~porf; and Rules, p. 53, d .eq.
President reltored 10 much of h is former discretionary power.
Distinction between Fellowship of T. S. and Membership of a
Branch or Section.
Term .. Parent Society" no longer used.
Annual Dues and Entrance Feel abolished in lavour of voluntary
contributions.
" Apparent IIntagonism between e.oteric and exoteric aspects of Th e
Society rem oved by formation-by Order in Council-of Esote ric Section."
"Nearly four yea.. trial 01 Presidential authority' in commi..ion •
having tailed to vindicate the innovation fully justifies re turn to 11010.11
quo o"fe."
T e rritorial administration of Sections.
Sea/o" ' .- Publication: The publ ic shall be made acquninted with
the objects and principles of the Society throug h 0 ... 1 and literary
agenciea; but the impartiality 01 the Society. . shall not be com·
promised in any publication.
Convcnlion. Presi dent cites the R esolution of Council. 27 August
1876, that the President shall have lull power, etc. (as above) and
mentions the change made in 1866 .. .
Sed/on G. ,. The President shall be the chief Executive Officer of
the Society. H e shall be responsible lor the due performance of hi. duties
to the General Council from whom he derive . his authority."
General Repprf, pp. 4·:); Rules, p. 59,
1890. OPjECT5 :
1. To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood o( Humanity.
without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.
2. T Q promote the study of Aryan and other Easlern literalures,
religions, philosoph ies and science .... and 10 demonstrate their
importance to Humanity.
3. T Q invest igate unexplained laws of Nature and the psychic powers
latent in man.
 OBJECTS AND RULES OF THE T. S. 55 1
HULr... R~~I~eJ In Duembcr at Convcnlion .
•• Seclions .. become Arfid.~.
Arl.lI. shorlened from 17108 Rules.
Art. 111 . 14 Rules. compri,.ing former Seclions C. and F. 5 Fellows
mill' receive Charter for Branch; but 7 Branche" still necessary to form a
Section.
Art. IV. President shall have the right to appoint his SuCCessor subject
to ratification by 2/3 majorily vote 01 Seclions.
Art. V. Gene ral Council simplified; no longcr divided into s ections
corresponding to lerritorial Sections 01 T.S.
Art. VI. President shall have discretionary powe", in an matters not
I.erein specifically prov ided for, and is-as belore-" responsible to the
Cene ral Council
The President may be deprived of olli"e for cause shown .• on
3/4 vote of G eneral Council. provided that opportunity ha" been given him
to disprove any charges brought against him. (Procedure set out in full).
Deleted: President's Counci l (advisory) " 10 api"t him in the
performance of his official dutie ....
1893. RIlLu
.. Du ring the pa" t year Ihe General Council has carefully revised the
Hule' • . th e only radical alteration ha" been in th e telm" of the
Pruidential office. which we have fixed at seven yurs:'
General Report. President's Address. p. 14.
1894. O"I £CU
2. T o promOle the study of Aryan .... nd other Eastern literature ••
religions, philosophies and sciences. and to demonstrate the
importance 01 that sludy.
HVLU
Art. IV. Rule 2. provideR that sections have one additional vote
lor each 250 .. paid up" membership, in addition to its vote as a Section.
Art. IV. The President could apppoinl hi .... ucce"" or.
A rt. VI. reads that the Pre"ident Can be deprived of office for cause
_hown by a .. 314 vote 01 the Judicial Committee hereinafter provided for
With further instructions on the constitution and membe rship of
.he Judicial Committee.
(Vice_President haa only one vote . even if "Jso a General Secre tary).
I\ rt. VII I. Headquarters is now veated in Trustees, acting under the
Trult Deed of 1892.
1896. OSIECTS:
I. To lorm " nudeus of Ihe Universal Brothe rhood 01 Humanity.
withoul d,,,tinction of race. creed, sex. c.ute or colour.
552 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

2. To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and

science.
3. To investigate' une xplained laws of Nature and the powers latent
in man.

18%. RULES
These revised Rules are dated 9 July, 1696.
Very marked alterations in the" set out" 01 the Rules after re vi.ion.
instead of IS long article s at formerly; the reduction is from 6 pages to 2 .
There are 'low 32 short Rules. under headings : Conatitution.
Membership. Officers. Organisation. Administratio n, Election of President.
Headquarte rs, Finance. Meetings, Revision.
EXEt VTIVf' NOTI CE, L Qnd ofl , 9 July;
The unde~igned JH. S. 0.1 publishes for the information of mem-
bers the text 01 Rules re vised and adopted this day. Only one import..... t
recommendation was rejected-that for removing the Pruident and
V.-President of T. S. for e ause shown. On mature con l ider .. tion it was
decide d that no rule c ould be of use if such an e mergeney arose.
The undersigned takes this opporluuily of correcting the miSlaken idea.
which prevails in some quarters. that the T. S. Rulel and wording of the
" Obje cts" are substantially what they have been from the CommenCe_
me nt and therefore entitled to SOme , pecial immunity from change. So
far ;s this from true, that the .. Obje cts .. have been re-Btated and the
Rules a ltered seve ral times, as the growth of the Socie ty and ils altered
conditions rendered the same necepary.
L",I/"". XVI", pp. Sl5_6. with Rules on opp08ite page_
M(mb<r~J.ip. Om its the three grades of Fellowship- Activ e. Co rre.-
ponding and Honorary. and simplifies from 6 to 2 p a ra •.
Oillce,.. The "ex-officio Secretaries .. deleted.
Orgo";lallon. Sel!t.n member. the minimum for Charter .
.JIdm/,,/.tralion. No pe rson can hold two offices on Geneml Council.
EI~dlon of PresMer.I. Pr ocedure de fine d . "Successor to be "oml_
"oleJ by Gen e ral Council:·

1905. RULES
The Society W,,", Incorpora ted th is year. The O bjects remain_
ed a s before. but the Rule, underwenl revi sion. See the Rules and
Regulations 01 the A 8sociation named Th e Theosophical Socie ty, pre-
faced by the A rticles of A ssoc ia tion. The O bjects have not since been
altered. but the Rules have underg one a certain amount of revision.

1908. RULf.5
Liberty of Thought re _affirmed.
 OBJECTS AND RULES OF THE T. S. 553
The Genera l Council decided" that Rules and Regulations be brought
up to date. and that word" no lon~ r in force owing to the pasting of the
Pres ident-Founder be omitted.
The 'Word" Section" changed 10 .. National Society" and the
term" Lodge " for" Branch" restored.
General R~fUlrl. p. 110.
19M. RULE3

Rule 44. Changes are made concerning property. to prevent IOB8 10

The Society upon lapse of a Lodge 0. a Section.

193 1. RlJl.E5
Necessity for l'Wo sponsor. aboliahed. Applicant" lor membership
.imply sign the authorised form.

1933. RUL ES
Rule 10. Now re ads that the Preside ntial candidate receiving the
"reate" number of votes shall be declared elected to the office of Pre.i-
dent.

1934. RULES

Rule J. It .hall be competent for the General Council 10 remove any

(II its members, or any officer of the Society. eIcepting the Pre.ident of
II,e Theoaophical Scciety and the General Secretaries 01 National Societiea.
loy a three_ lourth majority of its number of member• . . . the quorum
co nsisting however of not len than five members.
Previously the Rule had been-" 0. any oflicc:r of the Society."
without any eIcc:plidns.
 NATIONAL SOCIET IES
IN CHRONOLOGICAl. SEQUENCE wITH DATE or CHARTER

United State, of America 1886 Ireland 1919

Eneland 1688 Mexico 1919
India 189 1 C.nad. 1919
Au.tra lia 189' Artlenlin. 1920
Sweden 189' C h ile 1920
New Zealand 1896 Brazil 1920
Netherland. 1897 Bu1sa r;a 1920
F rance 1899 Iceland 1921
haly 1902 Spain 1921
Germany I 1902 Portugal 192 1
Cob. 190' Wale. 1922
H ung ... y 1907 Poland 1923
Finland 1907 Uruguay 1925
Rust;. 1925
Cuchoslovaltia
Soulh Africa
''''''
1909
1909
Puerto R ico
Rumania
Yugoslavia
192'
1925
Scotland 1910 Ceylon 1926
Sw il~rland 1910 Greece 1928
Be4rium 19 11 Central America 1929
Netherlandt.lndie. 1912 Central South A frica 1929
Burma 1912 Par.,u,,)" 1929
Au.tria 19 12 P.~ 1929
Norwal 191 3 Philippi ne 1.land. 1933
Egypt 1916 Colombia 1937
Denm!u" 1916
1 Di ..olved 19];. J Pres idential Age nt.

l Presidential Agent. • Prc8idenliai Agent.

A CTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN OR PROMOTED BY MEMBERS

OF T H E THEOSOPHICA L SOCIETY

(Thi, i, o nly a partial li, t, which may be adJed to by those unde r-

taking the research, purely Theosophica l intere.tI have not been included,
and they a re mostly mentioned in the te>:t 01 the Hi.tory.