The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-21
THE FOREMOST EXPONENT OF
~THE0SOPHY is NOW IN MIN
NEAPOLIS.
DELIVERS THREE LECTURES.
ONE OF THESE GIVEN LAST NIGHT
TWO OTHERS TO
COME.
WOMAN OF GENTLE DESCENT.
lish NObiIity-Her Mother an
Irish WOman

Mrs. Annie Besant, the foremost wo-
man orator of this day, the noted eX-
ponent of theosophy, and in all one of
the most remarkable women of the
century, arrived in Minneapolis yester-
day to deliver a course of lectures on
theosophy. She was driven to the resi-
dence of Col. w. F. Dodge, 1913 Stevens
avenue, where she will remain during
her stay in the city. In addition to
her lecture last evening, she will speak
tonight on "Esoteric Christianity" and
Thursday evening, Life After Death,
or the State of the Soul" Wednesday
and Thursday she will hold MONDAY
meetings for followers of the faith, and
she will be at home at the residence
OF Col. Dodge at 4 o'clock of those days
TO receive and explain the doctrines to
all DESTROYS of hearing such eXpounded
by her.
Mrs. Besant is Of gentle descent. Her
mother was an Irish woman of fine
family, and her father connected with
English nobility. She says: II always
thought n read a great deal, and
When about twenty-five years old found
L had gone beyond the orthodoxy of the
church of England in my search for
truth. 1t was in turn an agnostic, ma
terialist, spiritualist. One day L was
given the book known as The Secret
Doctrine. Its teachings were a reve>
Iat1on of light, and 1 became a theoso-
phlst.' Since 1898 she has been a prom
INERT figure in India, doing noble work.
Upon her shoulders fell the mantle of
Madame Blavatsky, VINO had brought
her IN touch with her own Master"
30 earnest is Mrs. Besant, of such
ICFce is her personal magnetism that
she carries the power of persuasion
upon her listeners to a remarkable de-
Sfee. In appearance, as she moves
apCut, there is seen the active, healthy
EhgllshWoman. She is possessed of a
striking face. Her skin is of an in
tebse pallor, and her hair, prematurely
Whlte, is combed back from her fore
Iead. Her lips possess little color. The
usual EngIsh qualities are apparent in
ner voice, soft and low and quite free
from modulations, with the restful
QUANTITIES Which mark good birth. She
gestures little. The only level she
wears is the ring of Madame Blavatskv
moving consT icaous on her beautiful
nara. 1T is the great seal ring Of the
order which came to her as the recog-
Elzed leader after TIE death of Madame
~BIaVatsky, and in it CLEANS the ia
nous Rosicrucian jewel, which is
thought to have belonged to CagIiostro.
MRS. BeSant is accompanied in her
American tour by the Countess Yacht
meister, who lectured in this citv q
few months ago..
MRS. Besant appeared again last even
ing before the followers of her cuIt
Ihe auditorium Ct the Unitarian church
was quite filled on the main floor hv
those who came to imbibe at the fount
OF knowledge since Mrs. Besant ranks
SO hlgh IN he world of t~heosophicaI
teachings. What Is Theosophy?" wae
Mrs. Besant's chosen subject for the
HrSt three lectures which she is IN
give. Rather thar give any new ex-
position of the subject, or expressing
original ideas as the result of study
ana investigation through the succeed
Ing years, Mrs. Besant reiterated the
principles of the faith, speaking as to
an audience of novices. and endeav-
orlng to make plain the Fundamental
truths of the cult. She dwelt with snn-
c!al and marked emphasis on the evolu-
tion OF the soul and reincarnation OF
the spirit, through which the divine
slIdrh implanted in man acquires
growth and. development until he
energies as the perfect man in the i'm
age OF his Divine Creator. The evo-
luton of the soul is the doctrine of
relncarr alton, by which man begins az
an embryo, begins without mental fac
uity or moral power with every nos
slblllty EMBODIED within him and with
hothlnS manifested from without.