European Federation of The TS

“The Theosophical Society in Europe” or the “European Federation of the Theosophical Society” (EFTS) is an association of national TS organizations in about twenty European countries which are attached to the TS headquarters at Adyar, Madras, India. It was founded in 1903.

It is a consultative and not a legislative body. It aims to promote the Objects of the Theosophical Society and encourage and extend its work throughout Europe, strengthening bonds and encouraging cooperation between member countries. To this end it arranges a European Congress approximately every three years in a different European country and organizes European tours by overseas speakers. Further functions include the coordination, as far as possible, of theosophical activities, keeping Council members informed of those activities, in particular of the dates of summer schools and other gatherings, details of publications in different languages, etc.; such information being passed on to individual members. The official language of the EFTS is English.

The governing body of the EFTS is the European Council, consisting principally of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and five other Executive Committee members and of official representatives of TS organizations in different European countries. Subscriptions of member sections or countries are not less than 7½% of annual national dues received. The Council meets once a year and the Executive Committee may meet twice a year. Annual reports are submitted by the Chairperson and member countries. Officers and committee members are elected by the Council for a period of three years with the exception of the Vice-President and Secretary who are nominated by the Chairperson, subject to ratification by the council.

Following the Second World War, under the chairmanship of J. van Dissel of Holland, the EFTS worked to revive theosophical activity in European countries. To this end Sections were encouraged to work in geographical and linguistic “regions.” British, German-speaking, “Pays Lantins” (including French-speaking and southern European countries) and Scandinavian Regions were formed. They organized Regional Summer Schools and published magazines and books. In time, consequent upon improved economic and communication conditions, the regional work became less necessary and many countries now hold national summer schools, but the “Pays Latins” summer school survives, meeting each year in a different “Latin” country.

Recent developments include the emergence of the International Theosophical Center (ITC), at NAARDEN, Holland where the European Federation together with the Center installed in 2001 the School of the Wisdom at Naarden. Since 1991, the Federation also actively works to revive theosophical interest in former Eastern Bloc countries.

List of Chairpersons

1904 - 1906 J. van Manen

1907 - 1913 A. R.Wallace

1913 - 1921 I. J. Wedgwood

1921 - 1928 C. W. Dijkgraaf

1929 - 1937 P. M. Cochius

1938 - 1959 J. E. van Dissel

1960 - 1968 John Coats

1969 - 1971 Claire Wyss

1972 - 1980 Madeleine Leslie-Smith

1981 - 1989 Barbro Melander

1989 - 1995 Curt Berg

1995 - Trân-Thi-Kim-Diêu

M.A.

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