Theos-Talk Archives (May 2009 Message tt00619)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Frank Reitemeyer" <ringding2009@...> wrote:
>
> PLEDGE OF PROBATIONERS
> IN THE
> EASTERN SCHOOL OF THEOSOPHY.
> ------------------------------ 
> I Pledge myself to endeavour to make Theosophy a 
> living power in my life.
> I pledge myself to support before the world the 
> Theosophical movement, and in particular to answer 
> and obey, without cavil or delay, all orders given 
> me through the outer Heads of this School, in all 
> that concerns my Theosophical duties and Esoteric 
> work, so far as I can do so without violating my 
> positive obligations under the moral law and the 
> laws of the land; and I expressly agree that I may 
> be expelled from the School and that the fact of 
> such expulsion may be made known to its members, 
> should I violate this pledge of obedience and 
> secrecy.
------------------------------------
At present the Outer Head in ES and the President of TS both are same. I am not saying for whom members should vote or should not. But after reading above pledge a logical question arises. Why would one vote against the E.S. Outer Head in TS Presidential elections, after taking above pledge? 
Although constitution does not prevent ES member from voting against ES Head, from the text of above pledge it seems unlikely that after taking above pledge ES member would vote against the Outer Head of ES in TS Presidential elections. This might explain why the Outer Head of ES often gets elected as TS President. I heard there are more than 5000 ES members 
After taking above pledge voting against the ES head in TS elections looks absurd. Please note the words in pledge 
"to support before the world the Theosophical movement, and in particular to answer and obey, without cavil or delay, all orders given me through the outer Heads of this School, in all that concerns my Theosophical duties and Esoteric work"
"I expressly agree that I may be expelled from the School and that the fact of such expulsion may be made known to its members, should I violate this pledge of obedience and secrecy."
I am not a member of ES. So what I write about ES is based on what people wrote in yahoo groups and mentioned elsewhere. If anybody shows factual mistakes or logical mistakes in my writing, I welcome them to write here or to my personal e-mail address.
Best
Anand Gholap