The herald., 1897-05-01
.THE0S0PHISTS COMING
ANNIE BEsANT AND THE CoUN-
TESS WACHMEIsTER
A Reception to Be rendered tho Visit.
ors This Evening-count Wacht-
meister Arrives in the City

A duo Of noted women will arrive
in Los Angeles today-women Of world
wide reputation and learned in occult
science-namely, Annie Besant and
Countess Wachtmeister. Their ad-
vance agent is Count Axel Wachtmeis-
ter. who came up from San Diego yes
terday.
The count is the guest Of Judge W. A.
Cheney this week, where he was seen
last evening. He Is travelling with Mrs.
Besant and his mother, the Countess
Wachtmeister, who are making an ex-
tensive tour Of this continent in the
interests of the American section of the
Theosophical society.
For some months Count Wachtmeis-1
ter has been residing in San Francisco.
looking after the interests Of the Mer-
curry in the absence of its editor, w. ].
Walters, and has just returned from
San Diego where he has been assist
ing Mrs. Besant in her work of start
ing new Theosephical lodge at that
point. The count is a charming young
Swedish nobleman, tall, well made and
good looking. He is fine musician and
delightful conversationalist; Is man
of wide travel and culture, and Is deep
ly interested in occult thought, upon
which he writes with clear and facile
pen. He has arranged In Los Angeles
for Mrs. Besant's story and lectures
for next week.
Mrs. Besant will deliver two lectures
in Los Angeles She. is one Of the few
women in the world who have stamped
4 Z l.~~> -. n~r1 ~vfxvl
sonality upon their day and generation.
She is one of the most eloquent women
living, and is now in the zenith of her
powers. In talking Of this remarkable
woman, Count Wachtmeister said:
mo name among the leading think
ers of the intellectual world Of women
Is so we'll known as that Of Annie Be-
SAINT. For many years she was the in
innate friend Of that great hero, Charles
Bradlaugh, who did such great work
for the liberation of thought and speech
in England. While Bradlaugh's life
long battle against bigotry as a re-
spected member of parliament is well
known, the work of Annie Besant in this
connection is less universally recog-
nized. Yet she bore the brunt of thu
battle and q tremendous antagonism,
which wouldsisu crushed a weaker wo-
man. She gained her 1aurels as ar ora
tor in the cause of free thought.
Her conversion to Theosophy is one
of the most interesting chapters Of psy-
chology, and shows the development of
an intensely religious nature with
powerful intellect. Mr.. Gladstone, in
his review Of Annie Besant's charming
biography, does not do her full Justice
in this respect, however much he ad-
mires her otherwise.
Recently Mrs. Besant has paid some
special attention to phases in the realm
of occult research, and the photographs
OF thought FORMS" which her lectures
illustrate. They are scientific researches
in the same lines as the studies Of Bara-
bac Rochag d'Aiglun and other scient-
lists"
Countess Wachtmefster, who accom-
panies Mrs. Besant. visited Los Ange-.
les about year ago. Many will remem..
Der her charming personality and her
eloquent lectures. Count Wachtmeis-
ter was Swedish nobleman. minister Of
foreign affairs in London, the highest
position in that country except minister
Of state. While the countess was leader
In social life, and woman OF great
wealth and culture, she gave up every
thing and on the death Of her husband.
in 1871. devoted herself to the cause of
Theosophy. In 1880 she discovered she
had Psychic gifts, and in 1886 she join
ed Madame Blavatslry in her researches
and was her constant companion until
her death. The faith Of the countess Is
great, because she has seen clairvoyant-
ly one Of the adopts Of India who was
Madame Blavatsky's teacher.
Miss A. ]. Wilson, who accompanies
these noted women in their travels. is
librarian Of the Theosophical library of
London. She Is taking a short vacation
in the interests of Theosophy.
A reception will be rendered the visit
ors in the hall of the Friday Morning
club this evening at o'clock by Har-
monv lodge of the TheoSOphiets,