History of Pretoria Theosophical Lodge

· 1904 The Lodge Charter is dated 1 December 1904 The Founding Members were Henri Dykman, Lodge President and Alexander James Gough. The Nederland’s Section had asked Henri Dykman to introduce Theosophy to the Dutch-speaking people of Pretoria. He gave a lecture at the Masonic Hall in Pretoria on Theosophy that was attended by at least 200 people. Mr Dykman was an imposing athletic six-foot figure who spoke fluently in French, German, English and Dutch.

· 1908 J. Bruno Bischoff joined in August 1908 and in his “History of Pretoria Lodge” (written in 1954 for the Golden jubilee), he mentioned that he attended the first lecture given by Mr Dykman and that Lodge meetings were held on Sunday mornings at Mr Dykman’s house. He also mentioned two other members; Cyril Gyde and Walter Bond with whom he became great friends. He also stated that there were about a dozen other members at that time. Mrs Le Roux offered Mr. Dykman her farm in Witbank. He refused the gift but accepted the same for the Lodge. This required some legal formalities, which would take some time. The idea was to start a Theosophical Retreat and study centre there.

· 1909 The first Convention was held in Pretoria during Easter 1909 in the Masonic all when Henri Dykman became the first General Secretary. Mrs Wyberg gave a lecture which was very well attended because she was a beautiful lady who spoke very eloquently in English. However, it was mainly a political speech in favour of the Labour Party under whose banner her husband later became M.P.

· 1910 Mr Fricke the General Secretary for Holland, was sent by Adyar to South Africa to investigate rumours of questionable occult practices by members of the Pretoria Lodge. There were a few months of intrigue ending in the mass resignation of members and Mr Dykman leaving for Europe. Mrs le Roux’s offer of her farm was cancelled. Walter Bond took over as Lodge President with Cyril Gyde and Bruno Bischoff as the remaining members. Mr C.E. Nelson, the new General Secretary and Mr Robbins travailed from Johannesburg to give talks, which helped the Lodge to get re-established.

· 1914 Mr John Walker became Lodge President.

· 1916 Mr Cyril Gyde became Lodge President. Mrs Murchie of Pietermaritzburg becomes General Secretary.

· 1917 Mr Walter Bond again became Lodge President. In Bishop Conrad Loveday’s account of the early history of Pretoria Lodge, He says he was introduced to Theosophy in 1917 by Cyril Gyde and became a member. The Lodge meetings were then held in one of the back rooms of the Nedbank Building on Church Square.

· 1918 Mr John Walker became Lodge President.

· 1920 Mr John Walker of Pretoria Lodge became General Secretary

· 1921 Bruno Bischoff became Lodge President. Bishop Wedgewood visited and lectured in Pretoria.

· 1923 Mr John Walker became Lodge President and hosts the National Convention held in Pretoria. Bruno Bischoff of Pretoria became General Secretary.

· 1924 Bruno Biscoff became Lodge President.

· 1925 Mr C.E. Gyde becomes Lodge President until 1928. The Lodge purchased two thirds of Erf 35 that belonged to Mr D’Arcy Poland a dedicated worker for the SPCA. He lived in a cottage on the other 1/3 of the Erf. The cottage and remaining portion of the Erf was purchased by the Lodge In 1953/54. The foundation stone was laid on 1 Dec 1927. The original deed of sale of the land was to Karel Fredrik Wolfe who purchased it from the Zuid Afrikaans Republic on 11 September 1888. Mr Poland purchased quater of Erf 35 of the adjoining property on 10 August 1918 at the corner of Water and Voor Streets, Trevenna. Mr Anton Frederick Sievers bought three quaters of Erf 35 of this land and sold it to Mr Poland on 26 March 1925.

· 1926 Mr Henri Dykman dies in an asylum.

· 1927 The National Convention was held in Pretoria. Lodge Meetings were held in Flat 4, 569 Pretorius Street from 1 Feb 1927 to 3 December 1927. Mrs V.E. Seymour who eventually became Lodge President and National Registrar, joined the Lodge in 1927 as a result of the influence of Miss Helen Kayser who became Helen Loveday another tireless worker of the Pretoria Lodge. The Foundation Stone of the new Lodge building was laid on 1 Dec 1927 by Mr. Wilfred John Wyberg.

· 1928 The Pretoria Lodge building was completed by the contractor L. Kley and the Members moved into the building The Regional Convention was held in Pretoria. Bishop Conrad Loveday married Helen Kayser.

· 1929 Mrs F Riddols became the new Lodge President.

· 1930 Cyril Gyde is again Lodge President All Regional Conventions were then held in Pretoria until 1935.

· 1931 Miss E. Turner became the new Lodge President.

· 1932 Mr J. van Ginkel became the new Lodge President for three years.

· 1935 Mrs M. Cillie became the new Lodge President. Geoffry Hodson lectured in Pretoria in December 1935.

· 1936 Pretoria was the venue for the amalgamated South African Section’s National Convention.

· 1937 Mr J. van Ginkel is again lodge President.

· 1938 Miss E. Clarke became the Lodge President and hosted the National Convention in Pretoria.

· 1939 Cyril Gyde an ardent worker for the Pretoria Lodge went on pension and decided to return to Bedford in England where he died shortly afterwards.

· 1940 The Lodge celebrated its 35^th Anniversary. Clara Codd came to Pretona to stay for two months. Mr J van Ginkel was again Lodge President for two years.

· 1942 Miss M. Ford became Lodge President and hosted National Convention held in Pretoria. Clara Codd was the General Secretary.

· 1943 The Lodge celebrated paying off its building debt. Tom Kirkman, a very old member of the Lodge, donated the final payment of 25.00 Pounds. The Lodge President, Miss M. Ford, handed over the cheque to the Bond holder, Miss M. Cillie, who handed Miss Ford the Title Deeds in a charming ceremony. Others who gave speeches were van Ginkel, Tom Kirkman, Miss Lydia Viljoen and Miss Petra Cillie who produced a programme for laying the foundation stone. It was also Petra’s birthday. Mrs Nellie sang ‘Bless this house”.

· 1944 Mr D Gower became the Lodge President. Jan Kruisheer took over as the first National President of the Section.

· 1945 MA Valleta Seymour became the Lodge President for two years

· 1946 The National Convention was held in Pretoria Eleanor Stakesby-Lewis became National President Clara Codd returned to England and Jan Kruisheer died.

· 1947 Mr Overdiep became the Lodge President.

· 1948 Mrs Winfred M. Bauman became the Lodge President for several years.

· 1950 The National Convention is held in Pretoria.

· 1952 Mr Rheeder became the Lodge President.

· 1953 The National Convention was held in Pretoria and Mr Stakesby-Lewis became the National President The Stakesby-Lewises move to Rhodesia. The cottage on the other one third of the Erf was purchased by the Lodge between 1953 and 1955.

· 1954 Ivan Mitford-Barberton became the new National President. The H. Q. moves to Cape Town. Pretoria Lodge Golden Jubilee was celebrated.

· 1956 Mr J.H Malherbe became Lodge President.

· 1957 The National Convention was held in Pretoria. Bishop Conrad Loveday died in June of Bilharzia. He was survived by his wife Helen and five children.

· 1957 Mrs Ethel Dougal became Lodge President. The National Convention was held in Pretoria. Mrs Mary Patterson from USA was the guest speaker.

· 1958 Mr J. D. R Eedes became Lodge President. Mary Patterson became National President

· 1959 Miss M. Cillie became Lodge President for two years.

· 1961 Mr C.A.E Bunton became Lodge President. Mary Patterson dies in office on 7 May 1962. Dr. R. Hartig of Pretoria became National President but died late in 1962.

· 1962 The National Convention was held in Pretoria.

· 1963 Mr. J. D.R Eedes was Lodge President. Miss L. D Wet of Pretoria became National President.

· 1964 The Lodge celebrated its 60^th Anniversary and received the donation of a red carpet to run the full length of the main hall. The main contributors were Mrs Pierney and Mrs Baumann. The Lodge President, Blanche Hofstra arranged a concert. There were 100 guests. Arthur Bunton was the Ampere. Miss P. Cillie presented a history of Pretoria Lodge.

· 1965 Mrs Blanche Hofstra became Lodge President. The National Convention was held in Pretoria, it was preceded by a three-day summer school attended by 19 members. The weather was very cold so there was a roaring fire in the Library to keep the members warm during the breaks for social interaction. Roy Charlesly and Phylis Lean led discussions and Betty Nairn gave an excellent lecture entitled Divine Efficiency. The Convention was very well attended with at least 80 members

· 1966 Mr C.A.E Bunton was again Lodge President until 1970. The National Convention was held in Pretoria where Mrs Lily Membrey from Durban was unanimously elected as the new General Secretary Convention. The Theme was “The Challenge of Theosophy”.

· 1971 Mr Carl Jordan became Lodge President.

· 1972 Mrs H. A. Loveday became Lodge President.

· 1973 MA Shirley Adcock became Lodge President.

· 1974 Mr C.A.E Bunton was again Lodge President. The National Convention was held in Pretoria. Geoffrey Farthing was the Guest of Honour. The Convention Theme wad “Life, More Life”.

· 1975 Mr Willie Kleingeld was Lodge President Willlie and his wife Louise went to Adyar to attend the School of Wisdom and international Convention

· 1976 Mr Carl Jordan became Lodge President. Mrs Winifred Bauman died on 28 April 1976 aged 87 Winifred had joined the Lodge in 1927. She was a gymnastics teacher at the Pretoria Girls High School and was introduced to Theosophy by Helen (Keyser) Loveday. Winifred became a Girl Guide Commissioner and Lodge President and drove an ambulance during the First World War. Pretoria Lodge Celebrated the Centenary of Clara Codd’s birth. Some of her fine lectures were published in the S.A. Theosophical Link magazine.

· 1977 Mr C.A.E Bunton was again Lodge President until 1984.

· 1979 In April Helen Loveday married Graham Thompson of Pietermaritzburg who came to live in Pretoria and became a member of Pretoria Lodge.

· 1980 The National Convention was held in Pretoria it was well organised and run by Arthur Bunton and his very able committee. The Convention Theme was “Theosophy and the Problems of Life”

· 1981 Jacob Bischoff the Deputy General Secretary and National Treasurer died suddenly. He was the husband of the General Secretary, Anna Bischoff. She could no longer carry on as General Secretary.

· 1982 Arthur Bunton of Pretoria Lodge became the new General Secretary. A former General Secretary, Eleanor Stakesby-Lewis died in England on 4 October 1982. Willie and Louise Kleingeld left Pretoria to settle in Robertson, Cape Province.

· 1983 The National Convention was held in Pretoria. The Convention Theme was “The unity of Life”. The proposal to centralise National Conventions was turned down by the Members.

· 1985 Mrs D van der Linden became Lodge President.

· 1985 The National Convention was held in Pretoria. The Convention Theme was “Theosophy Today”. Mark and Sally Sillifant of Pretoria Lodge passed away.

· 1986 One of our oldest Pretoria Lodge members, Elvira Mekesich (88) passed away on 8 March.

· 1987 Mr Peter Robertse became Lodge President.

· 1987 The National Convention was held in Pretoria. Helen Loveday celebrated her Diamond Jubilee of Theosophical Society membership. Annine Bischoff, formerly a member of Pretoria Lodge who was on holiday from the USA, came to the Convention.

· 1988 A former General Secretary and frequent Lecturer in Pretoria, Phyllis Scarnell Lean died in May.

· 1989 Mrs Louise Wade became Lodge President and is still Lodge President in 2008. Louise is also National Registrar and Assistant Editor of the South African Theosophist”. The National Convention was held in Pretoria. Joy Mills, the National President of the American Section, was the honoured guest speaker. The theme of the convention was “The Heroic Journey -A pathless path”. The Pretoria Lodge manned a stall at the Johannesburg Festival of Body and Mind. The stall and exhibit was organised by Tom Davis. The Centenary of Helen Blavatsky was celebrated with a special programme of events. Daphne van der Linde, the former National Registrar, and Lodge Presidents died of cancer.

· 1991 The centenary of Helen Blavatsky’s death was celebrated with a special programme of events. The National Registrar, Marie van Alphen and Reverend Arthur van Alphen left Pretoria to settle in Australia.

· 1992 Tom Davis of Pretoria Lodge became the new General Secretary.

· 1993 The National Convention was held in Pretoria.

· 1995 Tom and Ann Davis attended the Golden Jubilee of the Dar-es-Salaam Lodge in Tanzania from 14 to 16 April with Louise Wade and Abe Snyman

· 1998 Many members of the Pretoria Lodge went to the Johannesburg Lodge’s Centenary Celebrations and the National Convention, where Radha Burnier, the International President, was the guest speaker.

· 1999 The General Secretary, Tom Davis and wife Ann attended the World Parliament of Religions in Cape Town. Arthur Bunton, Past General Secretary, Past President of Pretoria Lodge and a member for more than 60 years, died on 19 September.

· 2000 Tom Davis attended the All Africa Convention in Nairobi and became the Chairman of the newly formed Pan African Federation. He also attended the Theosophical World Congress in Sydney, Australia with Ann Davis, Herta Vasiloudis and Annine Bischoff.

· 2002 The National Convention was held in Pretoria. Ida de Wet of Pretoria lodge and National Committee member, who had been a T.S. member for 61 years died on 30 September 2003.

· 2003 Work started on the new campus office buildings for the Department of Trade and industries (DTI). These buildings will surround the Pretoria Lodge site on three sides. A temporary road and entrance to the Lodge premises has been provided.

· 2004 The erection of the New Campus of buildings for the DTI continues to cause disruption to Lodge activities. However, this is temporary until the buildings are completed.