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1908
Over a Century of Service 2017
Floods in Chennai
In December 2015, Southern India was hgit by severe storms and heavy rains resulting in considerable flooding. The Theosophical Society's Adyar estate suffered considerable damage, especially to the workers’ dwellings. All this just before the Annual International Convention too! TOS here donated £500 towards the reconstruction.
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Nancy Secrest is the TOS International Secretary.
Tim Boyd, the International President of the Theosophical Society is ex officio, the International President of the TOS. In that capacity, he sets the direction of the TOS, oversees its work of encouraging and supporting the service endeavours of TS members and friends in whatever field they are engaged. Tim keeps an eye on the TOS as a place where social action as spiritual practice is valued and nurtured. He sees the TOS as functioning fully within the Theosophical Society's embrace and encourages it to allow for many different approaches to the art of serving.
"The race of mankind would perish, did they cease to aid each other. From the time that the mother
binds the child's head till the moment that some kind assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow
of the dying, we cannot exist without mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid have a right to
ask it from their fellow-mortals; no one who holds the power of granting can refuse it without guilt."
- Sir Walter Scott, Scottish Author.
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I slept and dreamed that life was joy;
I awoke and saw that life was service;
I acted and behold, service was joy.
- Rabindranath Tagore.
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So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
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In the Joy of others, lies our own.
In the progress of others, rests our own.
In the good of others, abides our own.
Know this to be the key to peace and happiness.
- Mahatma Gandhi.
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'The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray.'
- Sai Baba.
The Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) is a world-wide organisation committed
to putting into practice the ideal of brotherhood with all life. Members endeavour to have a compassionate
and constructive approach to the welfare of humanity, animals and the environment. It focuses on
various forms of service to put into practice these ideals of theosophy. It is ‘
theosophy in action’.
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Dr Annie Besant the then International President of the
Theosophical Society (TS), founded the TOS in February 1908
in response to the wish of a number of TS members ‘to organise themselves for various
lines of service, to actively promote the first object of the Society.’
The motto chosen was ‘A Union of Those who Love in the Service of
All that Suffers’, and its aims:
1) To minimise the sum of misery in the world;
2) To forget self in working for others;
3) To eliminate selfishness and substitute love as the rule of the world; and
4) To live to the highest that is within us.
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The Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) is the service arm of the Theosophical Society
(TS) - there are founding principles
behind its existence, and some quotes regarding its
philosophy of activities are given
also. Its history is also described.
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In countries such as India, Brazil and the Philippines, the
TOS participates actively in organising comprehensive programmes for the upliftment of
the less fortunate people. Members of TOS (UK) practise humanitarian and
compassionate actions, by sending personal donations to the TOS and organising
fund-raising activities on its behalf. While it is a Theosophical organisation, TOS (UK)
also functions as a "clearing house" for worthwhile small charities in the
UK - see this year's list of UK donations.
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TOS (UK) also functions as a
channel for funds to small charities in India, where the TOS has many branches and
members, who have direct knowledge of the problems of poverty and of which initiatives are most
valuable to help the poor and needy.
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The Officers of TOS (UK) are unpaid volunteers. We do not have any paid staff.
Administrative costs are kept to the bare minimum and all donations and funds raised are channelled
towards humanitarian work. Donations are welcomed from everyone, but we also have other
fundraising activities,
there are a number of meetings and events
at which the TOS has a table of items for sale. Please
contact us if you want to join, get
involved or donate items for sale. If you are not in the UK, there are many other branches
internationally - please see our links page.
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We are especially involved in the "Teddies
for Tragedies" project - very small children who have to go into hospital recover much
better if they are given a teddy to cuddle - we pass the teddies on to the organisers of this
scheme.
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We are most grateful to George McNamara and
Woodlands Web for generously donating the space for this site.
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Theosophical Order of Service,
Secretary and Co-ordinator: Cynthia Trasi, 66 Kirkgate, Shipley,
West Yorks BD18 3EL
Tel: 01274 598455. Email:
info@tos-uk.org.uk
I would be most grateful to receive notifications of any errors or mistakes and also for any
suggestions for improvement of this web site. I thank you in anticipation.
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