Theos-Talk Archives (February 2010 Message tt00152)

>From time to time, the question of autonomy of the National Sections in the
TS has come up in the minds of the members. A century ago, there were bitter
internecine quarrels among members of the American Section. A large number
of members appealed to Annie Besant who was International President to
interfere in the matters of the American Section. By the way, the quarrels
led to her suspending the ES for a year in the USA and stated âAs is
natural, any serious trouble in the TS always arises in the ES, and spreads
outward through the larger organism.â [Does this ring a bell when we
consider what has been going on since the start of the nomination process
for the International President by the General Council members all of whom
are high level ES and Masonic Members?]

In response to the appeal, she clarified the autonomy of the National
Sections which is helpful to understand the constitution of the TS which was
crafted with the advise from wise Founders whose tool the TS is. I am
adapting Besantâs response.

A National Society or Section, is autonomous, and no appeal lies to the
General Council. An appeal to the President only lies if a member has been
expelled from the TS by his National Society or if a rule has been passed
contrary to the Constitution of the TS; the member can be reinstated in the
TS, or his expulsion confirmed by the President; or the President can
declare invalid a rule which contravenes the Constitution.

I find nothing in the Constitution which permits an appeal to the General
Council by a dissident minority within a National Society, the bylaws of the
TS in America cannot give to the General Council a power of interference
with an autonomous National Society, the freedom of which is guaranteed by
the Constitution.

In passing, we have seen messages regarding the issues in Brazil and only
members there have the authority to decide how the section is operated.

MKR

There is no religion higher than Truth


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