San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-11-02
MRS. ANNIE BESANT.
This Leader Of Theosophy Con-
templating a Visit to America.
Once the Wife of a Clergyman from Whom
She Separated Because of Her Rad
teal Views-What She Has Ac-
cOmplished.

OluCC Illt uCdGL VI mlle. bldVdLShY
Mrs. Annie Besant has been the ac-
knowledged head and front of the
theosophists. The theosophists may
believe anything with regard to reli-
gion, but the vast mass of them agree on
one point, and that is that the great
religious teachers were men who had
reached perfection through having
lived many lives on earth, and that they
constitute secret brotherhood, from
which members are sent at intervals to
teach humanity. As Mrs. Besant is
said to contemplate a third visit to the
United States in the near future, 1t
may be expected that the agitation Of
the peculiar religious theory will soon
take new life.
Viewed from any aspect, Mrs. Annie
Besant is a strangely strong woman.
Born in England, of Irish parents, her
childhood was spent in an atmosphere
of pure religion, and, upon attaining
the age of young womanhood, she was
of an exceedingly devotional nature.
With a strong inclination for the clois-
ter, she was diverted from the purpose
of seeking seclusion in a nunnery by
the belief that she would accomplish
more for religion by marrying a clergy
man, and at twenty she became the
wife of Rev. Frank Besant, brother of
the novelist, Walter Besant She soon
discovered that her husbands life did
not conform to the lofty ideas
of perfect religion which she had
formed, and resented the diSap-
pointment by not only refusing to
go to church, but by resisting his
authority as husband, and finally be-
coming hereto. The result was a
separation, then a divorce, and, after
that, all sorts of trials and troubles for
the woman, which eliminated in max.
ing her leader among the socialists of
London, a co-laborer with Charles Brad
laugh in promulgating the doctrines of
infidelity, and subsequently the dis
ciple of and then the successor of Mime.
BlavatslSy as the leader and teacher of
theosophy.
But Mrs. Besant's life has not been
barren of good results. She became
the champion of the poor in London,
and by her tongue and pen did much
toward ameliorating their condition in
life. She procured for the overworked
and underpaid match girls such reforms
in their work and wages as materially
improved their condition. 1t was due
mainly to her agitation that John
Burns was given a seat IN parliament,
and under her guidance the working
people of London were organized, with
the result that many improvements in
their social condition followed. Dur
ing this period of her labor she stood
one night at the head of an army of
workingmen in Trafalgar square and
when a regiment of soldiers charged
upon her force with fixed bayonets, she
stood her ground, remarking they had
a right to be there. Her bravery won
for her the admiration of all England
After this Mrs. Besant became the
pupil of Huxley, and under his tutor
ship studied science and philosophy.
She first visited this country in March,
1891, and delivered several lectures. In
1898 she made her second visit as dele
gate of the theosophists in the congress
of religions at the worlds fair. Her
contemplated visit is for the purpose of
delivering q series Of lectures in the
leading cities of the country.