"Theosophy is altruism" - H.P.B.

Welcome to TOS International! We are excited to have you on board. Our team is committed to a supportive and positive environment. If you need assistance, please contact us. Let's make this a great experience for everyone!
Remembering that the concept of Theosophy involves altruism. Keep in mind that Theosophy is all about selflessly serving others. Embracing this practice can bring immense joy and fulfillment into your life.
Let us come together and make a difference in the lives of children through education! Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow, regardless of their circumstances or background. Through education, we can break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for all. Together, we can make a positive impact and shape a better world.
Let's be the change we want to see in the world and inspire others to do the same. Let's work towards a brighter future for our furry friends and leave a legacy of compassion and kindness for generations to come.

TOS History

From the archives

Purpose of the TOS

The Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) was founded by Annie Besant in February 1908, six months after her election as President of the Theosophical Society. Mrs. Besant formed the TOS in response to the wish of members “to organise themselves for various lines of service, to actively promote the first object of the Society: To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.” The motto chosen was: A union of those who love in the service of all that suffers.
The TOS offers a framework in which:individuals may work along self-selected lines of service for the uplifting of humanity and the protection of the planet;the practical application of theosophical principles to issues of contemporary concern may be explored;social action as spiritual practice is honoured and nurtured.The Theosophical Society, with its emphasis on complete freedom of thought for every member, officially maintains neutrality in controversial political and social issues. The Theosophical Order of Service, on the other hand, acts as a forum where members may air their views and take stands on affairs of public interest. The TOS currently has branches in some 30 countries. In some of them it is a separately constituted, legally registered body and in others it operates as an autonomous department of the Theosophical Society. All activities are supported and supervised by the International Secretary of the TOS who reports regularly to the President. Membership of the Theosophical Society is not a requirement for joining the TOS or assisting in its activities. In fact anyone may participate without being a member of either organisation, though to take office as a National Director or local branch organiser, one must be a member of both.Detailed guidelines on the structure and operations of the TOS are available. The international team of volunteers.

Tim Boyd is the International President of the Theosophical Society. As such he is also the ex-officio President of the Theosophical Order of Service (TOS). He sets the direction of the organization. Tim oversees its work of encouraging and supporting the service endeavors 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.

Nancy Secrest lives and works at Adyar, the headquarters of the Theosophical Society located in Chennai, India. She is our International Secretary. Nancy’s job is to coordinate the work of the TOS internationally. She supports
established groups and encourages the starting of new ones. She reports to the
International President on plans and achievements. She is our friendly ear for questions, suggestions and stories of exciting new projects. From time to time she organizes an international workers’ gathering.

Rekha L. Nahar is the Assistant International Secretary of the TOS. Originally from Bangladesh, she lives and works in the Philippines where she is the Vice President and Administrator of the Golden Link College, a school based on theosophical principles. Rekha assists the International Secretary as needed.

David Sztain is the Editor of the TOS e-Newsletter InTouchOnline. David lives in
Canada. He puts together an e-Newsletter quarterly which is sent to our members and friends who have subscribed to it.

Vicki Jerome is a former National Vice-President of the Theosophical Society in New Zealand  is the main proof-reader for international TOS English language publications and web material. Her reliability is breathtaking!

Diana Dunningham Chapotin, a former TOS International Secretary, is still consulted on certain matters. New Zealand born, she is a long-time French resident and is active within the TOS in the Paris area.

The TOS salutes its founder

Annie Besant, the second International President of the Theosophical Society and founder of the Theosophical Order of Service, was born on October 1, 1847.  It is traditional amongst Theosophists to mark her birth anniversary, taking time to recall all she did for the theosophical movement and for the cause of freedom and justice in many domains.Here we bring some photos illustrating Mrs Besant’s political activism, considered radical at the time and now regarded as being socially enlightened.Mrs Besant stands as an inspiration to us all and we salute her memory on the occasion of her birthday.

Here we see the cover of a book on birth control by Charles Knowlton that Mrs Besant and Charles Bradlaugh published in 1877. The book argued that the working classes could never emerge from poverty until they could limit the number of their children. This caused a real scandal, especially amongst the religious establishment, and the two publishers were put on trial. 

The publicity of the Bradlaugh-Besant trial made it an overnight bestseller. Its circulation increased from an average of 700 per year to 125,000 in just one year; Mrs Besant subsequently published her own birth control manual. The trial, and Knowlton’s Fruits of Philosophy, are credited with reversing British population growth and popularising contraception in Great Britain and America.

One of the few women in this photo, Mrs Besant can be seen seated in white amidst colleagues of the British socialist movement.  Her fiery speeches on social justice attracted very large audiences.
 Annie was amongst a great number of prominent thinkers who joined the Fabian Society, whose purpose was (and still is) to advance the principles of democratic socialism through gradual and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means.

Mrs Besant was active in the struggle for Indian independence. She became an early member of the Indian National Congress. In 1916, she launched the Indian Home Rule League. In 1917 she was arrested for protesting against British rule. This led to a wave of protests from different Indian groups. She was released to national acclaim. For a year she was made president of the Indian Congress, preceding leaders such as Gandhi and Nehru.

When Mrs Besant became familiar with the hazardous working conditions of matchstick makers in England, she published the facts and called for a boycott of Bryant and May’s matches.In describing her contact with the match-girls, she wrote this:” ‘It is time someone came and helped us,’ said two pale-faced girls to me; and I asked: ‘Who will help?’ Plenty of people wish well to any good cause; but very few care to exert themselves to help it, and still fewer will risk anything in its support. ‘Someone ought to do it, but why should I?’ is the ever re-echoed phrase of weak-kneed amiability. ‘Someone ought to do it, so why not I?’ is the cry of some earnest servant of man, eagerly forward springing to face some perilous duty. Between those two sentences lie whole centuries of moral evolution.”

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