Theos-Talk Archives (September 1999 Message tt00146)

I question whether there has actually been a significant drop in membership 
over the past decade.
It is my understanding that the largest membership came at the time that 
Krishnamurti was part of the TSA.  That group numbered approximately 8,000 
members.  After K left, there was a sharp drop.  The last two world wars also 
had an effect on membership.  At present, the membership must be around 5,000 
to 6,000.  If someone drew a graph of membership over the years, I would bet 
that there would be an average of about 5,500 starting in the 1920s.  What I 
am reading from the Internet is a large number of individuals for whatever 
reason point out that they were a former member but still believe in 
theosophical thought.  Why they choose to decline to monetarily support an 
organization whose purpose is to benefit society is difficult for me to 
fathom.  Nonetheless, why not suggest to the TSA that they establish a 
membership drive where they have a period of time that would be a grace 
period for former members to renew their membership for free for one year.  
Perhaps for the first quarter of the year 2,000.  Letters could go out to the 
individual who filed to renew for the past 4 to 5 years.  The bulkmail costs 
would be worth the price for increased membership.
One must also consider that there may be a faction in the TSA that would 
prefer that the membership remain limited.  It may not be because they want 
theosophy to be understood to a small group.  They simply may be fearful of 
giving up control to others who would direct the TSA into areas that they 
would consider undesirable.
Please note that conflict in any social organization is nothing new.  It has 
been going on since HPB and Olcott were around.  Just take the time to read 
any book on the history of the TSA.  The only way to change the TSA is to 
remain a member.

-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

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