Theos-Talk Archives (January 1996 Message tl00000)

Adyar International Rules (File 4)

23. President may Sue

The Society may sue and be sued in the name of the President.

24. Secretary to affix Seal

The Secretary may, with the authority of the President, or of
the two substitutes appointed according to Rule 22, affix the
Seal of the Society on all instruments requiring to be sealed,
and all such instruments shall be signed by the President or by
the two substitutes above mentioned and the Secretary.

25. Death or resignation of President

On the death or resignation of the President, the Secretary
shall at once make arrangements for the election of a new
President, in accordance with Rule 10, and until such new
President is elected the Vice-President shall perform the duties
of President.

26. Headquarters

Headquarters of the Society are established at Adyar, Madras,
and are outside the jurisdiction of the Indian Section.

27. Permission to reside

The President shall have full power and discretion to permit to
any person use of any premises or portion thereof in the Adyar
Estate for occupation and residence, on such terms as the
President may lay down, or to refuse permission so to occupy or
reside. Any person occupying such premises under the permission
granted by the President shall, on a fortnight's notice given by
or on behalf of the President, unconditionally quit the premises
before the expiry of that period.  When circumstances warrant
It, the fortnight's notice may be dispensed with and the person
shall quit immediately when required to do so.

28. Eligibility for membership

Every person of ten full years of age, without distinction of
race, creed, sex, caste or colour, shall be eligible for
membership in the Society, but those under the age of eighteen
shall be admitted to membership only with the written consent of
parent or guardian, and shall have no right to vote until they
have reached the age of eighteen years.

29. Admission to membership

(a) Admission to membership may be obtained through the
President of a Lodge (Branch), the General Secretary of a
National Society or, through the Secretary; and a Diploma
(Certificate) of membership shall be issued to the Fellow,
bearing the signature of the President, and countersigned by
the General Secretary, where the applicant resides within the
territory of a National Society, or countersigned by the
Secretary, if admission to membership has been obtained through
the Secretary.

(b) Admission to membership shall be at the discretion of the
National Society or the international Secretary, as the case may
be.

Membership Date

(c) The date of membership will begin: (i) When admission has
been made through the General Secretary, Regional Secretary,
Organizing Secretary, or Presidential Representative from the
date of acceptance by the General Secretary, Regional Secretary,
Organizing Secretary or Presidential Representative as entered
by him and duly reported to the Secretary at Adyar.

(ii) When admission has been made through the Secretary, from
the date of acceptance of the application by him, and so
recorded in his office.

(d) Members may not be full members of more than one Lodge
(Branch) at a time, but may be accepted as Affiliated or
Honorary Members of Lodges (Branches) other than the one in
which they are full members. Affiliated or Honorary Members may
possess such rights and privileges as are accorded to them by
the Lodge (Branch) in which they hold such membership, but they
shall not be founder members of new Lodges (Branches), but if a
member becomes a founder member of a new Lodge (Branch), he must
become a full member of such) Lodge (Branch) and shall
relinquish full membership in any other Lodge (Branch).
Affiliated or Honorary Members are not to be counted in the
international records or vote in international elections other
than through the Lodges (Branches) in which they hold full
membership.

(e) Without prejudice to the provisions of Rule 10, no member in
good standing for less than two years shall have the right to
vote in elections and other matters pertaining to Lodges,
Federations, Regional Associations, National Societies or other
duly constituted bodies of the Theosophical Society. In the case
of newly formed Lodges (Branches), or where the civil code or
corporate law prohibits restrictions on voting rights, the
General Secretary, or National Council or Committee, or the
International Secretary, as the case may be, shall have the
power to waive the requirements of this rule.  Where such waiver
becomes necessary, alternative safeguards shall be provided to
ensure that the character of the Society is preserved in all its
duly constituted bodies, and properties safeguarded.