88. On the Work of the Branches

Under this heading, reports will be published here in the future about the theosophical work inside and outside of Germany. Reports from personalities active in theosophical work, excerpts or complete transcripts of lectures, etc. are also gladly accepted and published here so that those who are interested have the opportunity to follow the course of the theosophical activities.

This time we shall begin with a description of the work of individual German branches. The 'Theosophical Society' is divided into a number of sections. Such sections are: the Indian, the American, the South African, the Australian, the English, the Scandinavian, the Dutch, the French, the Italian and the German. Each section includes the branches of the respective countries. Such a branch (lodge) is the actual closed field of work. Some information about German branches will now be provided, although no claim is made to completeness and additions may follow later in any way.

The Hamburg branch (Theosophical Society in Hamburg), which has about 20 members, is chaired and led by Bernhard Hubo, one of the oldest members of the Theosophical Society in Germany. For years, Bernhard Hubo has devoted himself to the spread of Theosophy in Hamburg. Every week he gathers the members together to discuss Theosophical questions and matters. He has made great sacrifices in public lectures to further develop the work in Hamburg. His book “Is There Life After Death? Is There a God?” is an easy-to-understand, careful treatment of important theosophical questions. (It can be obtained through the Hamburg branch at any time. Address: Bernhard Hubo, Hamburg-Hohenfelde, Martinallee 31.) One of his lectures on the theosophical ‘Creed’ will appear in the next issue of this magazine.

In Cologne, Miss Mathilde Scholl is the chairwoman of a branch with around 20 members. She, too, performs her work in the most self-sacrificing manner. She sees the members every week and cultivates the theosophical cause with them through discussion, reading, etc. Miss Scholl is the translator of Annie Besant's “Esoteric Christianity” into German.

In Düsseldorf, the excellent painter Otto Boyer is the chairman. Although he has not been a member of the Theosophical Society for long, he has quickly settled into the management of the branch. His artistic nature enables him to provide the branch with many ideas. The members of the branch meet weekly at his house or at that of Frau Smits Mess'oud Bey, who is loyal to the Theosophical work. A special gift for this branch is that Mr. Lauweriks, who used to belong to the Dutch section, has been working in Düsseldorf for a year and that since that time he has been giving his valuable work to the members in the theosophical field in the form of very instructive courses on the secret teachings of H.P. Blavatsky.