Theos-Talk Archives (May 2008 Message tt00583)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anand" <AnandGholap@...> wrote:

> I think even if other National Sections have freedom in some 
respects,
> they don't have freedom in some matters, where they can be hindered 
by
> HQ. For example if lodge is to be formed in any country, charter 
with
> President's signature has to come from Adyar (charter from existing
> lodges can also be withdrawn, as happened in case of many lodges).
> Therefore President can control how many lodges will get formed in 
any
> country and if he can control number of lodges in other countries, 
he
> can indirectly control memberships in other countries. 
> Consider the case of Russia. As Konstantin wrote, there are around 
200
> people who would become members of TS, if they are given chance. But
> President of TS does not allow formation of lodges in Russia and
> membership to individuals is also granted very rarely. So you can 
see
> that President of TS does practically have control over membership 
in
> different countries. Indian President will naturally benefit if
> membership is more in India. It is because members generally feel
> happy if person from their country becomes President of TS. 
> Also if a person from America or Europe or Africa wants to be a
> member, his/her Diploma needs signature of President of the TS. That
> means PTS has lot of control over membership pattern in all 
countries.
> And he/she can create and modify TS membership patterns to suit his
> political goals.

Anand,

There is a difference between being critical to someone's views and 
being unfair and non-factual in what we say. I will point out a 
number of incorrections in what you have written above by quoting the 
Rules of the TS and adding my own comments, which are marked PO.

Membership:

"29. Admission to membership 

 (a) Admission to membership may be obtained through the President of 
a Lodge (Branch), the General Secretary of a National Society or, 
through the Secretary; and a Diploma (Certificate) of membership 
shall be issued to the Fellow, bearing the signature of the 
President, and countersigned by the General Secretary, where the 
applicant resides within the territory of a National Society, or 
countersigned by the Secretary, if admission to membership has been 
obtained through the Secretary.  

 (b) Admission to membership shall be at the discretion of the 
National Society or the international Secretary, as the case may be."

PO: As stated above, the President does not "control" membership. Her 
signature is on the Diploma because she is the elected international 
President of the TS.

Formation of Lodges:

"33. Formation of a Lodge 

 Any seven Fellows may apply to be chartered as a Lodge (Branch). In 
a country where no National Society exists the application must be 
forwarded to the President of the Society through the Secretary."

PO: National Rules may have more specific requirements like, for 
example, before a Lodge/Branch is formed the members should have 
worked together as a Study Group for a period of time.

I do not know what the situation in Russia is at the moment, but when 
I was working at Adyar the European Federation of the TS was 
coordinating regular visits to that country in order to create 
interest in TS work. I also remember that someone in Russia decided 
to register the rules of the old Russian TS (pre-1917) without due 
consultation with the International Headquarters at Adyar. As a 
result that society was not recognised as part of the international 
TS.

Cancellation of Charters:

"36. Authority of Charters and Diplomas

(a) All Charters of National Societies or Lodges (Branches) and all 
Diplomas (Certificates) of membership derive their authority from the 
President, acting as Executive Officer of the General Council of the 
Society, and may be cancelled by the same authority.

(b) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-rule (a), a National 
Society, Section or Regional Association may cancel the Charter of a 
Lodge (Branch) within its area. This power shall be exercised by the 
Governing Body or Committee which is responsible, according to the 
constitution, rules and regulations of the National Society, Section 
or Regional Association, for the management of the business and 
affairs of the National Society, Section or Regional Association.

(c) The Lodge (Branch) may appeal to the President against the 
cancellation of its Charter under sub-rule (b) within a period of 
three months from the date or receipt of the order of cancellation of 
the Charter, and the President may either uphold or quash the order 
of cancellation. The decision of the President shall be deemed to be 
effective from the date or the order of cancellation or the Charter 
by the National Society, Section or Regional Association."

PO: As you can see above, the Rules of the TS extend to the Governing 
Body of National Societies (Sections) the authority to cancel 
Charters. In other words, that authority is not vested only in the 
President. Rule 36 was ammended in 1994.  


Pedro