The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-15
MRS. BEsANT's CAREER.
The sucessor of Mime. Blavatsky, who
VIII visit This Country.

From the Chicago Times-Heraid.
Since the death of Nine. Blavatsky.
Mrs. Annie Besant has been the ac-
knowledged head and front of the the
osophists. The theosophist may be-
lieve anything with regard ITO religion,
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 liv-
ed many lives on earth. and that they
constitute a 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,
II may be expected that the agitation
of the peculiar religious theory viii
soon take on 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
cloister. she was diverted from her
purpose of seeking seclusion in nun
merry by the belief that she could ac-
complish more for religion by marry
ing a clergyman. and at 20 she became
the wife of Rev. Frank Besant. broth
er 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 disappoint-
ment by not only refusing ito go to
church, but by resisting his authority
as a husband, and finally becoming
hereto. The result was a separation,
then a divorce. and. after that all
sorts of trials and troubles for the
woman. which eliminated in making
her a leader among the socialists OF
London. a co-laborer with Charles
Bradlaugh in promulgating the doc
the disciple of and then the successor
of Nine. Blavatsky as the leader and
teacher of theosophy.
Mrs. Besant has had a troubled life.
and 1t must be said that she has borne
her trials with much fortitude. Her
association with Bradlaugh, which was
maintained without interruption until
his death. resulted in ostracism from
| society and all sorts of condemnation
| from conventional people. But she
pursued her course unmindful Of all
| this, and even in the face of the tear
| full protestations of her mother, whom
| she dearly loved. and who Is said to
have died of broken heart because
| of the actions of the daughter. 1t
/ was through MrS. MOnCure II. conway
| that she became acquainted with Brad
laugh, and through William T. Stead
that she subsequently met Mime. Bla-
| vatsky.
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 re-
forms in their work and wages as ma
terially improved their condition. 1t
was due mainly to her agitation that
| John Burns was given a seat in par
| lament, and under her guidance the
| working people of London were organ
lied, with the result that many inn
provements in their social condition
followed. During this period of her la
Dor she stood one night at the head
of an army of workingmen in Trafal-
gar square and when a regiment OF
soldiers charged upon her force with
fixed bayonets. she stood her ground
| remarkfng 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 a
delegate of the theosophists in the
| congress of religions at the world
fair. Her CONTEMPLATED visit Is for the
| purpose of delivering a series of lee
lures in the leading cities OF the coun-
| try.