PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008
Under the authority of the Executive Committee of the Theosophical
Society, I hereby certify that, in accordance with Rule 10 of the
Rules and Regulations of the said Society, the Election Committee
appointed by the Executive Committee counted the results of the
voting communicated to the International Secretary by the General
Secretaries of National Societies and Sections, Regional and
Organizing Secretaries, Presidential Representatives and the votes of
Lodges and Fellows-at-Large attached to Headquarters. The Executive
Committee checked them and declared the result as follows:
Dr John Algeo 4,323 votes
Mrs Radha Burnier 8,560 votes
Mary Anderson
International Secretary
[From Pedro Oliveira on Theos-talk:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theos-talk/message/45042]
yes, i noticed the disparity also. glad to hear things are a bit more stable.
There are historical reasons for the large membership of the TS in India. I have had a look at TS Annual Reports for the end of both Olcott and Besant presidencies. At the end of 1906, there were 220 branches (lodges) in India and 73 in the US. Unfortunately, there are no membership figures for that year.
At the end of 1933, there were 4,544 members in the US and 4,078 in India, but there were 261 branches (lodges) in India and 171 in the US.
The above figures show that during a period of 27 years, although there was fluctuation in the membership numbers in both India and the US, India retained a strength in Lodge (Branch) numbers.
The decision of the Founders to move the Headquarters to India in 1879 and their active work and residence in that country certainly contributed for the strengthening of the Theosophical presence there, in spite of all the difficulties. And, according to HPB, they had certain very definite reasons for such a move. She wrote:
“While at Madras [May,1882], we were told that a well-known Tamil scholar, a Pandit in the Presidency College, desired to have a private conversation with us. The interview occurred in the presence of Mr Singaravelu, President of the Krishna Theosophical Society, and another trustworthy Theosophist, Mr C. Aravamudu Ayangar, a Sanskritist, of Nellore. We are no more at liberty to repeat here all the questions put to us by the interviewer than we are to divulge certain other facts, which would still more strongly corroborate our repeated assertions that (1) our Society was founded at the direct suggestion of Indian and Tibetan Adepts; and (2) that in coming to this country we but obeyed their wishes. But we shall leave our friends to draw their own inferences from all the facts.” (The Theosophist, July1882, “Coming Events Foretold”)
It is also interesting to note that out of the seven international Presidents of the TS so far only two were Indians (Sri Ram and Radha). Olcott was American, Besant and Arundale were English, Jinarajadasa was Singhalese and John Coats was Scottish. Obviously nome of them would have been elected without a considerable support of the Indian membership.
[...] was in fact a two thirds majority for Radha. Assuming for simplicity sake that only Indians voted for Radha (which seems unlikely, but hey) 95% [...]
please let me know the LordBuddhas 7 names as per Buddha literarture at the earliest.
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