Pretoria Lodge
Through Theosophy we aim to reveal:
– Our place in the universe.
– To explain why the world exists as it does.
– To reveal the divine wisdom behind all religions and nature,
– in other words, a mystical and esoteric philosophical movement.
Theosophy is a knowledge of truth; in its essence this wisdom is divine – it has a quality/nature that the mind and heart can surrender itself to.
The Pretoria Lodge received its Charter on the 1st of December 1904, with its first President being Henry Dykman. He also became the first General Secretary of the National Section in 1909. Pretoria Lodge meetings were held in Mr. Dykman’s house until Lodge meetings moved in 1916 to one of the back rooms in the Nedbank Building in Church Square, when Mr. Cyril Gyde became Lodge President.
Lodge meetings moved again to Flat 4, 569 Pretorius Street in Feb 1927. A beautiful new Lodge building was constructed at 424 Skinner Street, Sunnyside, and the cornerstone laid on the 1st of December 1927 by Mr. Winifred John Myberg – Pretoria City Councilor. Pretoria Lodge was the first Lodge in South Africa to build and own its own premises.
The building was completed by the contractor L. Kley and Lodge members moved in during the early part of 1928. It then became the permanent home of the Pretoria Lodge.
In 2003, work began on the Department of Trade and Industries Campus, which almost encircled the Pretoria Lodge property. The new Campus was built over Skinner street and the old street no longer existed. The Lodge address was changed from 424 Skinner Street to 2 Esselen Street, Sunnyside and changed once again several years later to 2 Robert Sobukwe Street, when the road name changed.
Due to growing security concerns in the Sunnyside area, in September 2021 at an extraordinary Members Meeting, it was decided to sell the Lodge property and move Lodge meetings to a temporary address at The Vryburger Hall, 5 Umgazi Street, Menlo Park.
The Sunnyside Theosophical Society Property is in the process of being sold to the Department of Trade and Industry. We are currently looking for new permanent premises and have faith that we will have one soon.
Our current President is Brenda Findlay who has been at the helm for 9 years since 2013. Tom Davis is also still on the committee after many decades of loyal service to the Theosophical Society, not only in Pretoria but Nationally.
We offer a wealth of lectures on numerous subjects from speakers with varied backgrounds. We also offer a movie day where we dive into the esoteric symbolism and meaning of these movies.
We also have a library but being in between permanent premises our books are currently in storage. With our new premises we will once again offer our library services as well as meditation classes.
Please do join us for a fascinating journey to discover where we come from, what we are doing here, and where are we going.
Entrance is free, donations are most welcome.
General
Name – The Pretoria Lodge of The Theosophical Society in Southern Africa
Address – Vryburger Hall, 5 Umgazi Street, Menlo Park, Pretoria
Management Body – Pretoria
President: Brenda Findlay
National Public Relations: Hazel Dalton
Contact Details: WhatsApp +27 82 645 7700
e-mail: theosophysa@gmail.com
Please review the Programs tab for the current Lodge offering.
Please also view our Facebook page – Theosophical Society of Southern Africa – Pretoria Lodge.