Theos-Talk Archives (December 1995 Message tl00007)

ROOTS!

It seemed a good idea to make available material rarely seen by
theosophists of any denomination when the matter of the
international Adyar rules came up on theos-l. So here goes
with the first part .....

Beginning of Memorandum of Association and Rules and
Regulations of the Theosophical Society as incorporated at
Madras India 1905. Transcript follows from photocopy in the
editor's possession:

MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION ETC.

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
No. 02 of 1905

I hereby certify pursuant to Act XXI of 1860 of the Governor-
General of India in Council entitled 'An Act for the Registrat-
ion of Literary Scientific and Charitable Societies 1860'
that The Theosophical Society is duly incorporated as a Society
under the aforesaid Act.

SEAL

Sd A. PERYIASWAMI MOODALIAR
Station Madras Registrar of Joint Stock Companies
Dated 3rd 190504

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
FOUNDED 17 NOVEMBER 1875 INCORPORATED 03 APRIL 1905

In the matter of Act XXI 1860 of the Acts of Viceroy
and Governor-General of India in Council being
an Act for the registration of literary
scientific and charitable Societies

and

IN THE MATTER OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

-------------

MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION

1. The name of the Association is The Theosophical Society.
2. The objects for which the Society is established are:

I. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity
without distinction of race creed sex caste or colour.

II. To encourage the study of Comparative ReligIon Philosophy
and Science.

III. To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers
latent in man.

a The holding and management of all funds raised for the above
objects.

b The purchase or acquIsition on lease or in exchange or on
Hire or by gift or otherwise of any real or personal property
and any rights or privileges necessary or convenient for the
purposes of the Society.

c The sale improvement management and development of all
or any part or the property or the Society.

d The doing of all such things as are incidental or
conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them
including the founding and maintenance of a library or libraries.

3. The names addresses and occupations of the persons who are
members or and form the first General Council which is the
governing body of the Society are as follows:

GENERAL COUNCIL

Ex-Officio

President-Founder: H. S. Olcott Adyar Madras Author.
Vice-President: A. P. Sinnett London England Author.
Recording Secretary: Hon. Sir S. Subramania Aiyar Madras
Justice of the High Court.
Treasurer: W. A. English M.D. Adyar Madras Retired Physician.

Alexander Fullerton General Secretary American Section 07
West 8th St. New York.

Upendra Nath Basu. B.A. LL.B. General Secretary Indian
Section Benares U.P.

Bertram Keightley M.A. General Secretary British Section 28
Albemarle St. London W.

W. G. John General Secretary Australasian Section 42 Margaret
Street Sydney N.S.W.

Arvid Knos General Secretary Scandinavian Section
Engelbrechtsgatan 07 Stockholm Sweden.

C. W. Sanders General Secretary New Zealand Section Queen
Street Auckland New Zealand.

W. B. Fricke General Secretary Netherlands Section 76
Amsteldijk Amsterdam.

Th. Pascal M.D. General Secretary French Section 59 Avenue
de la Bourdonnais Paris.

Decio Calvari General Secretary Italian Section 380 Corso
Umberto I. Rome.

Dr Rudolf Steiner General Secretary German Section 95
Kaiserallee Friedenau Berlin.

Jose M. Masso Acting General Secretary Cuban Section Havana
Cuba.

Additional

Annie Besant Benares Author [for 03 years].
G. R. S. Mead London Author [for 03 years].
Khan Bahadur Naoroji Dorabji Khandalvala Poona Special Judge [for 03 years].
Dinshaw Jivaji Edal Behram Surat Physician [for 02 years].
Francesca E. Arundale Benares Author [for 02 years]
Tammacharla Ramachandra Row Gooty Retired Sub-Judge [for 01 year].
Charles Blech Paris France Retired Manufacturer [for 01 year].

4. The Founders

Henry Steel Olcott who with the late Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
and others founded The Theosophical Society at New York United
States of America in the year 1875 shall hold during his
lifetime the position of President with the title of
'President-Founder' and he shall have alone the authority and
responsibility and shall exercise the functions provided in the
Rules and Regulations for the Executive Committee meetings of
which he may call for consultation and advice as he may desire.

5. Income and property applied to promotion of objects

The income and property of the Society whencesoever derived
shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of
the Society as set forth in this Memorandum of Association and
no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or
indirectly by way of dividends bonus or otherwise by way of
profits to the persons who at any time are or have been members
of the Society or to any of them or to any person claiming
through any of them: Provided that nothing herein contained shall
prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officers
or servants of the Society or to any members thereof or other
person in return for any services rendered to the Society.

6. Members of General Council not answerable

No member or members of the General Council shall be answerable
for any loss arising in the administration or application of the
said trust funds or sums of money or for any damage to or
deterioration in the said trust premises unless such loss damage
or deterioration shall happen by or through his or their wilful
default or neglect.

7. Vesting of Property on dissolution

If upon the dissolution of the Society there shall remain after
the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property
whatsoever the same shall not be paid to or distributed among
the members of the Society or ally of them but shall be given or
transferred to some other Society or Association Institution or
Institutions having objects similar to the objects of this
Society to be determined by the votes of not less than
three-fifths of the members of the Society present personally or
by proxy at a meeting called for the purpose or in default
thereof by such Judge or Court of Law as may have jurisdiction
in the matter.

8. Filing of rules and Regulations Memorandum

A copy of the Rules and Regulations of the said Theosophical
Society is filed with this Memorandum of Association and the
undersigned being seven of the members of the Governing Body of
the said Society do hereby certify that such copy of such Rules
and Regulations of the said Theosophical Society is correct.
As witness our several and respective hands this...day of
Mar 1905.

Witnesses to the signatures:

Sd. WM GLENNY KEAGEY
" ARTHUR RICHARDSON
" PYARE LAL
" PEROZE P. MEHERJEE

[The above witnessed the seven signatures below - Ed].

Sd H.S. OLCOTT
" W.A. ENGLISH
" SUBRAMANIAM
" FRANCESCA E. ARUNDALE
" UPENDRA NATH BASU
" ANNIE BESANT
" N.D. KHANDALVALA

Rules and Regulations to follow in due course. Ed.

Posted by Alan Bain
--
Member Theosophy International
Private e-mail: guru@nellie2.demon.co.uk