The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-31
MRS. BESANT'S LECTURE.
The High Priestess of TheOsOphy
Speaks ON MAN the Master
Of HE Oestlnies."


Mrs. Annie Besant. the high priestess of
the philosophy Of theosophy. lectured at
the Seattle theater last night before an
audience that was as remarkable for the
close attention that was paid the speaker
as for its personnel and its unusual size.
That Mrs. BeSant is the head of a great
and growing organization that until re-
Gently was considered as adherent to a
cult, might have furnished an excuse Of
curiosity to some who found their way In
to the temporary temple. but she had
not spoken a dozen words before she had
inspired the greatest interest in her theme
in which the godhead Of theosophy was
demonstrated to be Nature. Seldom has
II been the privilege of Seattle audience
10 listen to SO gifted speaker and in her
eloQuently delivered address tho beauties
OF the thoughts that inspire the teachings
of the wisdom-religion were so plainly set
forth that scoffers at other religions or
PHILOSOPHERS could not cavil at the pic
turesque presentation of the subject It
is not the aim of Mrs. Besant's utterances
to weaken or destroy the great funda-
mental truths of religions-of orthodoxy,
except In what she regards as its impos-
sible aspect. but to reconcile her own be-
liefs and the teachings Of eheosophy with
those other teachings OF generally ac-
cepted religions. and In her own words,
~ 1AohhAhANS ditu Spitiludflx6 ana eSIaU-
fish them on basis absolutely inlp~eg-
nable to the assaults of selfish material
ism which threatens the life Of our civil
ization."
On the platform last night with MrnI
Besant were the Countess Wachmeister.
who Is her travelling companion, and r.
A. BARNES. OF this city. The lecturer ap-
peared before her audience In a loose
white robe or tunic and over her should
vxsac ~
that fell about her, leaving her arms free.
Her gestures when speaking are few and
are only in the nature OF a nervous move
ment with her right hand, usually held
across her body, her left hand either at
her side or resting upon the speaker 3
table. She was introduced by the Countess
Wachneister, who Is well-known by her
philosophical lectures and residence OF
several months in this city. Before the
beginning Of the lecture Mr.. Barnes an
nounced that special meetings for tho
benefit OF enQtIirers will be held this cven-
Ing at o'clock and tomorrow afternoon
at 3 O'clock. Mrs. BeSant's address was
logical and consistent from the standpoint
she takes. II dealt first with the laws
Of nature which are irnmutabis. Nature
Ia conquered by obedience to It's laws and
Familiarity with the forces OF nature
makes man the master. KNOWLEDGE is
forces or energies in nature. capable Of
subdivision are tire influences used in
shaping mans destiny. and to a great ex-
tent man Il ca pable % moulding his own
destiny. These three great forces are the
power OF thought. the work OF desire and
the effects Of ones actions on the lives
OF those surrounding us. Character Is
moulded by thought and the persistency Of
thought credits channel for character.
Mrs. Besant used some exquisite imagery
I'm illustrating her subject and her similes
drawn from the flowing OF a stream were
beautiful word pictures Her address be-
gan at this point 10 treat OF reincarnation
and the effect OF the present life on that
which subsequently returns a soul to a
physical habitatioH and an earthly envi-
ronYnent Her presentation WAS In
tanseiy interesting and she took up with
the same care the treatment OF the second
great nerxy--desire--which she Chafae-
terixed as Ink between one and the oo-
ject sought 10 be possessed. She traced
desire from its inception as a thought
through the spiritual and physical stages
10 It's TTafiffcati ton and safety. giving IL
ustrafions Of her theme la actual cases
that had met her os,seryat ton Tn. whole
trend OF Mrs BeSant's argument leads up
through gradual stages toward spiritual
rerfess.ion She spoke at length Of the
effect az our actions and lives upon those
sh,;lt us and closed amid the most ia-
tense interest or the audience. Fer hand
ling OF a deep and attractive subject WAS
rnsst.rly and its effect was greatly en-
HANGED sy her powerful and convincing
delivery.