Chronology of the history of the theosophical movement in Slovenia

Chronology of the Theosophical Movement in Slovenia

Slovenia - part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

1895

At Bled the "Healing Institute" is established by Dr. Arnold Rikli, where theosophists from all around the Europe come to recover health and strenght and which consequently becomes a center for the promotion of the Theosophy.

1900

First theosophical study group in Ljubljana presided by Dr. Edvard Šerko and in touch with the Dutch Section of the Theosophical Society.

1911 - 1914

Students of Theosophy in touch with the Theosophical Lodge in Vienna.

1914 - 1918

World War I.

Slovenia - part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

1918 - 1920

Revival of contacts.

1921

In Ljubljana The Preparatory Committee for the foundation of the Yugoslav Theosophical Society is set up.
An informative pamphlet with the title Theosophy Is God's Wisdom as well as Wisdom About God is published.
Some members took part at the First Theosophical World Congress held in Paris.

1922

The Preparatory Committee begins to publish magazine called Esoteric Letters.

1923

The Preparatory Committee take part at the 7th European Congress in Vienna and found the Theosophical Company with its seat in Ljubljana. Its elected President is Mr. Anton Zajc. President of the Theosophical Society Dr. Annie Besant acknowledge this group as a Lodge directly attached to Adyar and issue a Charter dated on 23/04/1924 for the lodge to be known as the Lodge Service.

1924

Croatian sympathizers in Zagreb have an important session on January 17, where a decision to found the Yugoslav Theosophical Society is taken.
Mrs. Jelisaveta Vavra is elected the General Secretary.
Theosophical Company Lodge ceases its activities with the death of Mr. Anton Zajc.

1925

On the date 14.09 President of the T.S. Dr. Annie Besant issues the Charter for The Yugoslav Section of the Theosophical Society with the seat in Zagreb.

1926

Section begins to publish the magazine Theosophy.

1928

Society rents a flat in Zagreb for regular meetings and library.
In Slovenia activities resume with the establishment of the Krishnaji Lodge in Celje. Its President is Mr. Konrad Konec.

1929 - 1937

Though the Society lacks funds it manages to publish the following books and pamphlets:
Theosophy and the Theosophical Society Intended for Those Who Seek the Truth, The Astral Plane and The Devachan by C.W. Leadbeater, Karma by Ivan Butković,
At the Feet of the Master by J. Krishnamurti, Voice of the Silence by H. P. Blavatsky and Light on the Path by M. Collins.
Many translated works are published as typescripts and has a limited circulation.

1938

The Congress of the European Federation of the Theosophical Society takes place in Zagreb.
It is attended by the President of the Theosophical Society Mr. George Arundale and his wife Mrs. Rukmini Devi.

1939

The Lodge known as Service in Ljubljana restores its activity with the President Mr. Vladimir Komidar.
Another Lodge, Surya, is founded in Maribor at the same time. Its President is Mr. Vladimir Munda and its bulletin Our Word.
Yugoslav Section of the T.S. renames itself in the Theosophical Society in Yugoslavia.

1940

Members living in Zagreb assembled at the Annual Convention dissolve the Society in fear of German occupation.
The premises are turned into a flat so that the Society property might be spared the confiscation by the quisling authorities that submit Croatia to the control of the German Reich.
All the work of the Society ceases, except in Slovenia.

1941 - 1944

The World War II.
In Ljubljana the work continues illegally.

Slovenia - part of the SFR Yugoslavia

1945

In 1945 the Yugoslav regions are again united in a new state, the Socialistic Federative Republic of Yugoslavia.
In October members of the Society in Zagreb voted for a change of the name of the Society. It is now to be called The Theosophical Society in the Federal Republic of Croatia.

1946

In July occurs the death of the long-standing General Secretary Mrs. Jelisaveta Vavra who had objected the change of the name of the Society.
In supplementary elections Mr. Alojz Piltaver is elected. A monthly bulletin Theosophical Worker begins its edition.
Slovenian members gathered in the Lodge Service acquire two rooms in former Apprentice Hall for their meetings.

1947

On December 3, the Federal Secretariat for the Internal Affairs issues an act banning all activities of the Society throughout the country.
The Society property, including the library, archives and the Foundation Charter, is confiscated.

1948 - 1965

Until 1966 the Society work in Croatia and Serbia completely extinguishes and its members undergo harassment and persecution through 19 years.
In Slovenia the work continues illegally in spite of the ban and fines. Meetings are attended by about 15 members.
This group enjoys moral support by the European Federation of the Theosophical Society which in 1954 for the first time invites Mr. Anton Jesse, the President of the Lodge Service to the summer school at Pichl. The European Federation continues this practice for 20 years.

1966 - 1967

In 1965 the political situation is slightly improved and there are changes in the state constitution. All this opens the possibility of renewed work.
The lodge Service in Slovenia initiates the renewal. The Preparatory Committee concludes its task and at the meeting on May 9, the founding meeting and elections take place.
A new name for the Theosophical Society is approved, i.e. The Theosophical Society in the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, with its seat in Ljubljana.
Mr. Anton Jesse is elected as General Secretary.
Several members attend the 5th world congress of the T.S. at Salzburg where the President of the T.S., Mr. N. Shri Ram organizes a special reception in their honour.

1968

Members of the society attend to the congress of the European Federation of the T.S. at Swanwick.

1969

At the Annual Convention a new Executive Committee is elected with Mrs. Mila Grubačević as General Secretary.

1970 - 1974

There is going on the regular work of the society including regular meetings of lodges and summer schools at Gozd Martuljek.

1974

The Society begins to publish the quarterly magazine Young Theosophist.

1976

The name of the magazine is changed to Theosophist.

1977

In 1977 the Society rents a flat in Ljubljana, which makes it able to found a Lodge Brotherhood for young members.

1978

Members in Slovenia have some difficulties with the authorities; that is why the seat of the Society is transferred from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

1979

At the Annual Convention in Ljubljana Mr. Emilio Trampuž is elected the new General Secretary.

1980 - 1982

Work is going on. New lodges are founded, especially in Croatia. The name of the magazine is changed to Paths.

1983

President of the lodge Service Mrs. Jennifer Krevel appeals to the President of the T. S. who launches an investigation into the activities of New Acropolis inside the T. S. in Yugoslavia.
As a result of the investigation the General Secretary Mr. Emilio Trampuž and other leading officers of the society have their membership withdrawn. Thus only three lodges, i.e. Service in Ljubljana, Understanding in Celje and Love in Rijeka remained to represent the Theosophical Society in SFR Yugoslavia.

1984

Mr. Emilio Trampuž who is stripped of all rights and duties summons a Convention in Zagreb on January 29. This Convention adopts the decision to sever all the links with Adyar.
In accordance with the Act of the International President dated on January 6, 1984, members of the three lodges (Service, Understanding and Love) summons their members to a conference at which the new Administrative Committee is elected with Dr. Avguštin Gerden as the General Secretary.

1985

President of the T.S. Mrs. Radha Burnier visits Slovenia, giving support to the lodges attached to Adyar which begin to publish the magazine Theosophical Thought.

1986

Members of the expelled lodges rename the Theosophical Society in the SFRY in Pitagora society.

1987

On April 3, the General Secretary Dr. A. Gerden dies. A new Administrative Committee is therefore elected on May 30, with the General Secretary Mr. Anton Jesse.

1988

Mr. Leon Krevel dies after 45 years of theosophical service.

1989

The Society decides to sever all links with Croatian authorities whereupon it receives the long-awaited reply that Pitagora society is acknowledged as the heir to the Theosophical Society in SFR of Yugoslavia.
In agreement with Adyar, a founding conference takes place on May 25, and the new Theosophical Society in Slovenia with the seat in Ljubljana and Mr. Anton Jesse as the General Secretary. A new Administrative Committee is elected and new rules adopted.
The Society publishes M. Collins' book Light on the Path.

1990

The President of the T.S. Mrs. Radha Burnier visits Slovenia once again. The Society publishes At the Feet of the Master by J. Krishnamurti and The Voice of the Silence by H. P. Blavatsky.

Slovenia - independent state

1991

In the year 1991 we witness the collapse of the SFR Yugoslavia and share its fate. Yugoslavia consisted of six republics, i.e. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia plus two autonomous regions within Serbia: Vojvodina and Kosovo.
In 1991 Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina become internationally recognize independent states.

1992

On October 23, the President of the Theosophical Society Mrs. Radha Burnier issues a charter by which she recognizes the Theosophical Society in Slovenia as The Regional Association of the Theosophical Society embracing three lodges, i.e. Adyar (former lodge Service) in Ljubljana, Razumevanje in Celje and Surya in Koper (former lodge Love in Rijeka).
The Society publishes H. P. Blavatsky's book Two books of the Stanzas of Dzyan.

1994

The Society publishes The Key to Theosophy by H. P. Blavatsky and The Chakras by C.W. Leadbeater.

1995 - 1998

At the Annual Convention the new rules of the Society are adopted and Mrs. Cveta Starič is elected as the General Secretary. I. K. Taimni's book The Science of Yoga is self-published.

1998

At the Annual Convention the new Administrative Committee is elected with Mrs. Irena Kristan-Polanc as the General Secretary.
The Society publishes the second edition of H. P. Blavatsky's The Voice of the Silence and I. K. Taimni's Self-culture.

2000

The Society publishes a book by Mrs. Danielle Audoin On Knowing Oneself.

2002

The Clara Cod's book The Mystery of Life is self-published.

2004

At the Annual Convention Mr. Dušan Žagar is elected as the new Regional Secretary of the Society.