Theos-Talk Archives (December 1995 Message tl00239)

ET:
>It used to be that a number of members could apply for a charter
>and form a Study Center or Lodge. Now the groups are probationary
>and must demonstrate some attempt to study Theosophy in order to
>become regular groups. If I and a few people in Los Angeles with
>perhaps a 10-to-20 years average in theosophical studies were to
>apply to form a group we'd be in the same probationary status as
>any other group. This represents another attempt to control the
>studies and direction of groups.

My recent membership in new study group gave me access to info concerning this
question. Someone told me that some new groups were studying something other
than theosophy - let's say channeling or some other new age stuff. This is what
caused TS to tighten up on their rules. My group was on probationary status and
went through the introductory material. Having started with 25 we went down to
12 and continually lost membership through the months. The secretary also had
to take a signed count of people attending and give a written summary of what we
discussed. I imagine this would have all counted towards our official
recognition had the group stayed together.

Ann E. Bermingham