Theos-Talk Archives (May 2011 Message tt00015)

The attempt of the American Section to cancel the charter of the Orlando
Lodge and hiring a lawyer to seize their assets makes one wonder what is the
real problem with the lodge as viewed from Wheaton.

Lo and behold - I find that the lodge has a nice website and here is what I
found visiting it.

+++

The Theosophical Society in Orlando was chartered in January 1935 and has
been active in the Central Florida community since that time.

Theosophical Meetings are held on the first and third Fridays at 8:00PM
September through May.

The Society maintains a Lending Library, Nature Sanctuary, and Mediation
Room open weekly to the public, September thru May.

The School of Theosophy, Orlando presents classes in Basic Theosophy and
Meditation twice a year, in the Spring and Fall Semesters. A school catalog
and class syllabus are available upon request.

Lodge of the Air Home Study Program

While nothing can replace the value of personal interaction, discussion,
dialogue and fellowship experienced at a  Theosophical Meeting, we realize
that sometimes circumstances prevent one from being physically present with
us. In these cases you can still derive a benefit of Theosophical Study with
us by participating in our Lodge Of The Air Program.

All that is required is that you send us your name, and e-mail address, and
intention to participate. We will include you in our thoughts.

We will inform you of the current seasons study & text, and if available
provide you with a e-link to the information.

As a participant in the Lodge Of The Air Program you can send us your
questions and discussion ideas to share with the meetings.

The School of Theosophy presents classes in Basic Theosophy & Mediation
twice a year, Spring and Fall Semesters. Each Semester runs for 10 weeks.
Classes are held on Sunday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:30 P.M.
Pre-registration for classes is required for new students. Prior graduate
students may attend and audit the classes anytime.

In October of 1996 the Members of Orlando Lodge dedicated our current campus
as a "Designated Nature Sanctuary." Every year on the second Sunday of
October we hold a special program of Nature Awareness and Appreciation.

++++

MKR Comments:

The above shows the lodge conducts programs that you normally find in lodges
and I did not see anything unusual. (BTW, I have been a member of TS for
several decades and have seen the activities of many lodges.) So what is so
wrong with the operation of the lodge that called for the most extreme step
of canceling the charter??? That too without any elected official ever
visiting the lodge and do fact finding and attempting to solve any problems.

All allegations we have seen published by the American Section are shifting
and vague and fuzzy. Coupled with this is the fact that the International
President did not rubber stamp the decision of the American Section which
clearly indicates that she did not buy allegations of the American Section
even after the National President in-person followed up the matter during
her December 2010 visit to Adyar.

The response of the American Section to the decision of the International
President to attach the lodge to Adyar when Orlando lodge appealed to her,
was that the International President should rubber stamp the decisions of
the Section even though the rules of TS provide a due process appeal to the
International President in charter revocations. In addition, there was an
allegation that some how the lodge has become a ârenegadeâ one. (This
reminds me of the cults where everyone has to blindly toe the official
beliefs.)

All of the above points to the need for the American Section leadership to
transparently place all the cards on the table and justify their decision to
members. While it is difficult to force the Section to do so, continued lack
of solid reasons and supporting facts and evidence hurts theosophy or TS. In
the Internet age where information flows around the world 24/7 and no one
can control it, silence will not make the issue go away.

Let us hope the leaders see the writing on the wall and bring full
transparency to the Orlando issue.

MKR

There is no religion higher than Truth


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]