Theos-Talk Archives (January 1996 Message tl00002)

Adyar Rules (File 6) (Last one - Appendix to follow).

36. Authority of Charters and Diplomas (a) All Charters of
National Societies or Lodges (Branches) and all Diplomas
(Certificates) of membership derive their authority from the
President, acting as Executive Officer of the General Council of
the Society, and may be cancelled by the same authority.

(b) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-rule (a), a
National Society, Section or Regional Association may cancel the
Charter of a Lodge (Branch) within its area. This power shall be
exercised by the Governing Body or Committee which is
responsible, according to the constitution, rules and
regulations of the National Society, Section or Regional
Association, for the management of the business and affairs of
the National Society, Section or Regional Association.

(c) The Lodge (Branch) may appeal to the President against the
cancellation of its Charter under sub-rule (b) within a period
of three months from the date or receipt of the order of
cancellation of the Charter, and the President may either uphold
or quash the order of cancellation.  The decision of the
President shall be deemed to be effective from the date or the
order of cancellation or the Charter by the National Society,
Section or Regional Association.

Provided that if the President does not pass an order on the
appeal within a period or nine months from the date or receipt
of the appeal, the cancellation or the Charter shall be deemed
to have been upheld.

Minimum number of members for National Society

(d) If at any time the number or members in good standing of a
National Society falls below seventy and the number of Lodges
(Branches) falls below five, the President may, at his
discretion withdraw its Charter.

In the event of the Charter not being withdrawn, the General
Secretary of the Section concerned shall cease to have voting
rights as a member of the General Council until the necessary
numerical strength is recovered.

37. Rules or Lodges and National Societies

Each Lodge (Branch) and National Society shall have the power to
make its own Rules which shall not be incompatible with the
Rules of the National Society to which the Lodge (Branch)
belongs or with the Rules of The Theosophical Society.

All Rules of Lodges (Branches) and National Societies and
amendments thereto shall be submitted for approval within thirty
days of their adoption as follows :

(a) In the case of a Lodge (Branch) belonging to a National
Society, all such Rules and amendments shall be submitted to the
General Secretary of that National Society, and shall be put
into force if approval has not been refused within ninety days
of acknowledgement of their receipt by the General Secretary of
the National Society.

(b) In the case of a National Society, or of a Lodge (Branch)
not situated within the territory of a National Society, or of a
Lodge directly attached to Adyar under Rule 31 (c) all such
Rules or amendments thereto shall be submitted directly to the
international President, and shall be put into force if approval
has not been refused within nine months of acknowledgement of
their receipt.

If by a change made in a Rule of The Theosophical Society, any
Rule of a National Society, which at its inception was not
incompatible with the Rules of The Theosophical Society, ceases
to be compatible, such a Rule of the National Society shall
cease to be valid and shall be amended so as to be in consonance
with the Rules of The Theosophical Society.

If by a change made in a Rule of a National Society, any Rule of
a Lodge (Branch) which at its inception was not incompatible
with the Rules of the National Society, ceases to be compatible,
such a Rule of the Lodge (Branch) shall cease to be valid and
shall be amended so as to be in consonance with the Rules of the
National Society.

38. General Secretary

(a) Every National Society shall elect a General Secretary, who
shall be the channel of official communication between the
General Council and the National Society.

(b) The General Secretary shall be elected according to the
procedure laid down in the rules and regulations of the National
Society for a term not exceeding three years. He shall, however,
be eligible for re-election for a further term or terms, if' the
rules of' the National Society permit it.

(c) The General Secretary shall generally reside within the area
of the National Society and shall not be absent from the area
for any period or periods exceeding the limit prescribed by the
National Society.

(d) General Secretaries, Regional Secretaries, Organizing
Secretaries and other Officers, including Committee Members of
National Societies and Regional Associations, shall have been
members in good standing for not less than three consecutive
years immediately prior to their election to the office
concerned. Provided that in special circumstances, the National
Council or Committee shall have power to waive the requirements
of this rule.

39. Annual Report

The General Secretary of each National Society, the Regional
Secretaries. Presidential Representatives and Secretaries of
Lodges directly attached to Adyar shall forward to the
President, annually, not later than the first day of November, a
report of the year's work, along with an audited financial
statement of accounts with an English translation where
necessary; and at any time furnish any further information the
President or the General Council may desire.

40. National Societies known as Sections

National Societies hitherto known as Sections which have been
incorporated under the name of 'The...Section of The T.S.'
before the year 1908, may retain that name in their respective
countries, in order not to interfere with the incorporation
already existing, but shall be included under the name of
National Societies for all purposes in these Rules and
Regulations.

41. Fees and Subscriptions

The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall together have the
power to fix or vary fees and charges payable to the General
Treasury by Lodges (Branches) not comprised within the limits of
any National Society ; for Charters of such Lodges (Branches);
of Diplomas (Certificates) of Membership and for Annual
Subscription of Fellows of such Lodges (Branches); and in the
case of Lodges (Branches) comprised within the jurisdiction of
a National Society, Regional Association, or Presidential Agency
for Charters when printed at or supplied by the Adyar
Headquarters. The Secretary should inform the General Council
within three months of any changes in fees and charges. The
Annual Subscription of Fellows other than Fellows-at-large or
members of Lodges (Branches) attached directly to Adyar shall be
the amount prescribed for Annual Subscription by the bylaws or
other regulations of the National Society to which such Fellows
are attached, or equivalents.

42. Fellows-at-large: Fees and Subscriptions Fellows-at-large
resident within the territory of a National Society under the
Provision of Rule 31 (a) shall pay to the General Treasury as
Entrance Fee and as Annual Subscription the amounts prescribed
by the bylaws or other regulations of such National Society, but
not less than the fee and subscription fixed for a
Fellow-at-large not resident within the territory of a National
Society.

Fellows-at-large not resident within the territory of a National
Society, shall pay such Entrance Fee, Diploma Fee and Annual
Subscription as shall be fixed by the President, Secretary, and
Treasurer.  The Secretary shall inform the General Council of
any changes in such fees within three months of their being
made.

43. National Societies: Fees to Adyar

(a) Each National Society shall pay into the General Treasury
fifteen per cent of the total amount of fees payable by members
to the Section and shall remit the same to the Treasurer at
Adyar on or before the first day of March of the current year,
and the financial year of the Society shall close on 31st March.

Presidential Agencies. Dues

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 41(a) and Rule 42,
the President at his discretion may authorize Presidential
Representatives to collect dues in territories to which they
have been appointed and to remit in accordance with Rule 43(a).

44. Cancellation of Charter or dissolution of National Society
or Lodge

In the event of the cancellation of any Charter under Rule 36,
or the dissolution of any National Society or of a Lodge
(Branch), the constituent Charter of the National Society or of
the Lodge (Branch), granted by the President, shall ipso facto
become forfeited or lapsed, and all property, real or personal,
including Charters, Diplomas (Certificates), Seal, Records and
other papers belonging to or in the custody of such National
Society or Lodge (Branch)' shall vest as follows :


Vesting of property of National Society or Lodge

(a) in the Society, in the case of a National Society or of a
Lodge (Branch) not within the territory of a National Society or
of a Lodge (Branch) coming under Rule 31(c) except where the law
of the country where the National Society or Lodge (Branch) is
situated prohibits such vesting, in which case the property
shall vest (as hereinafter provided) and delivery shall be made
to the President, or to his nominee on his behalf.

(b) in the National Society in which the Lodge (Branch) is
situated, in the case of a Lodge (Branch) within the territory
of a National Society, said Lodge (Branch) not coming under Rule
31(c), and delivery shall be made to the General Secretary of
the said National Society.

No National Society or Lodge (Branch) whose Charter shall have
become forfeited or lapsed shall continue to use the name,
motto, or seal of the Society except for the purpose of vesting
in the Society or in the National Society, as the case may be,
the real and personal property of such National Society or Lodge
(Branch).

Revival or transfer of Charter

(c) Provided, nevertheless, that the President shall have power
to revive the Charter of the National Society or the Lodge
(Branch), as the ease may be whose Charter shall have become so
forfeited or lapsed, and to transfer the said Charter to other
Lodges (Branches) being not fewer than seven in number, or to
other Fellows being not less than seven in number, as the case
may be, or to such other nominees of' his as in his judgement
shall seem best for the interest of' the Society.

Provided further that in cases in which the Charter of a Lodge
(Branch) had been cancelled by a National Society, Section or
Regional Association under sub-rule (b) of Rule 36 and, on an
appeal under sub-rule (c) of that Rule, the President quashes
the order of cancellation, all property of the Lodge (Branch)
shall again vest in the Lodge (Branch), and shall be deemed to
have remained so vested from the date of the order of
cancellation of the Charter by the National Society, Section or
Regional Association.

In cases under (a) above, where such vesting in the Society is
prohibited by the law of the country in which is situated the
National Society or the Lodge (Branch) whose Charter has become
forfeited or lapsed as aforesaid, the property shall vest in a
local Trustee or Trustees appointed by the President.

To effect any transfer of property, to which the Society may
become entitled under this Rule, it shall be lawful for the
President to appoint an agent or nominee for the purpose of
executing any necessary document or documents, or for taking any
steps necessary effectually to transfer the said property to the
Society.

45. Financial accounts

The financial accounts of the Society shall be audited annually
by qualified Auditors who shall be appointed by the General
Council at each Annual Meeting for the ensuing year.

46. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting or Convention of the Society shall
be held at such time and in such place as shall be determined by
the Executive Committee in June of each year, but such Annual
General Meeting or Convention must be held within nine months of
the close of the Society's year and may be held outside India
not more than once in every three years. National Societies
desirous of inviting the Convention and able to make due
arrangements for its accommodation, shall send the invitation at
least twelve months prior to the Convention with particulars of
the arrangements they propose to make.

47. World Congress

Not more than once in every seven years a World Congress of The
Theosophical Society may be held at a place and date to be fixed
by the General Council, but so as not to interfere with the
Annual Convention.

48. Special meetings

The President shall have the power to convene special meetings
of the Society at his discretion.

49. Changes in Rules and Regulations

The General Council, of their own motion or on the motion of the
Executive Committee and after at least three months' notice has
been given to each member of said Council, may, by a
three-fourths vote of those members who vote in person, in
writing, or by proxy, make, alter or repeal the Rules and
Regulations of the Society, in such manner as it may deem
expedient.

50. Bylaws

The General Council may frame by-laws not inconsistent with
these Rules and Regulations and may add to, alter, or repeal
such bylaws, consistently with the said Rules and Regulations,
as it may deem expedient.