Theos-Talk Archives (January 2004 Message tt00452)

Dear Dallas

On the last page of "The Secret Doctrine" (original and 2nd editions only,
i.e., not in the facsimiles) it states:

"The Society has branches in all parts of the world, and head-quarters in
India, Europe, and America, where all further information may be obtained
from the following:-

In INDIA from-
THE SECRETARY OF THE T.S.,
ADYAR, MADRAS.

In EUROPE From-
THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE B.S.T.S.
7, DUKE STREET,
ADELPHI, LONDON, W.C.

In AMERICA from-
THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE A.S.T.S.,
P.O. BOX 2659,
NEW YORK, U.S.A."

As far as India is concerned it is: T.S.
Europe and America are described as the British SECTION & American SECTION
of the T.S.

Rather than “de facto” or “de jure,” perhaps what should interest us more,
is: "de heart" or "de eye."

Tony


-----Original Message-----
From: Dallas TenBroeck [mailto:dalval14@earthlink.net]
Sent: 29 January 2004 11:36 pm
To: AA-BN--Study
Subject: Theos-World RE: Manas and Blavatsky on the Christian Mass
media...


Thursday, January 29, 2004


Re: T S History -- a correction

Where is the H Q of the T S ?


Dear Friends:

I find a posting that reads in part: “an article by Blavatsky written
in Bombay in 1879 - the year when the Theosophical Society's
headquarters was transferred to India,”

Allow me to make a correction in fact of this view of T S history.

The H Q of the T S was never formally by Resolution "transferred" out of
New York . The Minute Books of the original T S are with the T S in A
in Pasadena, and they verify this as I have seen them.

Col. Olcott and HPB went to India in 1878, arriving in Bombay in 1879.

The Resolution recorded in the T S Minute Book was that they were
constituted a "Delegation."

The T S had at that time proposed to affiliate itself with the ARYA
SAMAJ [Assembly of the Nobles] movement of Pandit Dayanand Saraswati.
They went to India and one of their objects was to cement this
affiliation. It did not succeed because of Dayanand's insistence on
absolute authority -- and therefore, complete obedience to his rules and
decisions.

The freedom of the members of the T S being impugned, it was not
possible for the "Delegation" to ratify the proposed affiliation. It
was therefore abandoned and instead, it was decided to establish a
Branch of the T S first in Bombay. Later many more Branches were
established all over India. An Indian HQ became necessary. The Adyar
property was bought with funds provided by Col. Olcott and HPB. Details
of these matters will be found recorded in the early volumes of the
THEOSOPHIST. They are also summarized in the book: The THEOSOPHICAL
MOVEMENT (1875-1950).

Col. Olcott, when in India declared that the H Q was wherever he was
encamped. This was the basis on which thereafter matters were
conducted. It is called legally: a “de facto” decision. Whereas: “de
jure,” the T S as a Society never left the shores of America, its
birthplace. And its HQ remained in New York.

The SEAL of the T S was changed in India, and then adopted generally as
mentioned.

We may also take note of a judicial contribution made as to the legal
nature of the T S (reprinted from The KEY TO THEOSOPHY :