Historical background

The Theosophical Society is part of a universal, ethical and intellectual Movement, which has been active throughout the ages. In accordance with the cyclic laws of Nature, this Movement brought forth spiritual impulses which gave the initial impetus to the great religious and philosophical systems produced by humanity. Sages such as Lao Tze, Krishna, (Gautama) Buddha, Jesus of Nazareth, Plato and many others gave rise to these impulses. Time and again, they tried to make age-old Theosophy known to the people and they always did this in a form most suited to the time and place in which they lived.

Founders of The Theosophical Society

In 1875, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in New York. She acted on assignment of her Teachers, denoted by the name of 'Masters of Wisdom and Compassion'. With the knowledge they supplied, a foundation was laid for twentieth century thinking. H.P. Blavatsky passed away in 1891 after many years of self-sacrifice. She left humanity a voluminous number of writings, of which the theosophical standard work The Secret Doctrine is the most well known.

Read more in our article H.P. Blavatsky, HPB and the current Messianic Cycle

Leaders of The Theosophical Society Point Loma - Blavatskyhouse

The Theosophical Society is an organization formed by people, so many divisions took place in the years that followed. A few years after the death of H.P. Blavatsky the two most important branches, on an international level, developed. In The Netherlands one branch is known as the Theosophical Society (with headquarters in Adyar, India) and the other (of which you are viewing this website) as the Theosophical Society, of which the headquarters were respectively in New York, Point Loma and Covina, the latter two in California. At present it is established in the Blavatsky House in The Hague, The Netherlands. The Theosophical Society has members worldwide and national sections in The Netherlands and Germany.

After H.P. Blavatsky the Theosophical Society was directed by
W.Q. Judge (1891-1896), 
Kath. Tingley (1896-1929),
Dr. G de Purucker (1929-1942), 
A.L. Conger (1945-1951), 
W. Hartley (1951-1955), 
D.J.P. Kok (1958-1985) and 
H.C. Vermeulen (1985-present).

Membership

In the first place the Society is a community of workers, requesting of it's members determination, the will to co-operate, the subordination of personal desires and an interest in the objectives that are being worked for. In order to give interested parties the opportunity to get acquainted with the consequences of Theosophy in daily life, we organize the courses 'Thinking Differently' and 'Wisdom of Life' as an introduction to Theosophy, its principles and the goals of The Theosophical Society. 
Anyone who agrees with the goals of the Society and the rules of the Constitution, and endorses the principles of Universal Brotherhood, may apply for membership. 
For more information, please contact us.

The organizational framework

The organization is hierarchically structured. The center is formed by the International Headquarters of the Leader. The organization has national sections. Every national section forms the coordinating organ of the local Lodges.

The International Study centre for Independent Search for truth Foundation

All our public activities are organised by the International Study centre for Independent Search for truth Foundation. The Foundation is the external holding of The Theosophical Society Point Loma - Blavatskyhouse The Hague. The purpose of the Foundation is to form a core of Universal Brotherhood, by spreading the knowledge regarding the spiritual structure of man and the cosmos, free of dogmas. The Foundation tries to reach that objective by, amongst other things, giving courses, organizing public and other lectures, the publishing of books, pamphlets and other publications. The Foundation does not receive government grants.
All activities of the Society and the International Study centre for Independent Search for truth Foundation are carried out on voluntary basis. The organization has no paid officials.