Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-09-01
ANNIE BESANT TO
COME TO AMERICA
High Priestess of TheOsO-
ply Sails Soon
HAS RUN WHOLE GAUNTLET
From Christianity to Atheism and
Then by Other Steps to TheOSOphy
TO Meet the American Cult
al Chicago.

LONDON, August S1-Mrs Annie
Besant. recently elected world presi-
dent of the Theosophical Society il
succession to the late Henry Steele
Olcott, has arranged to leave A1here
next week for the United States The
purpose of her trip is to pres !, al
the annual convention of the 4sfheri.
can section of the The9sophical So
civty, which is to be held soon in
Chicago. While in America Mrs
Besant expects to deliver lectures
on theosophy in New York, Phila-
delphia, Cincinnati, Pittsburg and
other cities.
Even those who do not share her
belief often speak Of Mrs. Beseant as
one, of the most wonedrful women of
the age. Her career at any rate, has
been most extraordinary one. Early
in life she married a minister, the
brother of Walter Besant, the move
list, who disliked her, and who ac-
cented the last syllable of his name
because she accented the first of
hers.
Mrs. Besants married life was un-
happy. In 1874 she was legally sepa-
rated from her husband, at her own
suit, on the ground of cruelty, and
denied the custody of her children on
the ground that she was an atheist,
The real cause of the separation was
her complete detection from the Chris
tian faith and her refusal to. take the
communion in compliance with her
husbands requirement Her child
rem, however, did not share her hus-
bands views, and as soon as they
reached their majority returned to
her roof and continued to live with
her.
Mrs. Besant's public career as a
reformer, inconclast, agitator, and
philanthropist began with her separa-
ton from her husband.
She was born altruist, and was no
reformer, inconclast, agitator, and
than she plunged into the work of re-
lieYing the wants and sorrows of the
poor in the East End of London. The
accounts given of her self-denying la
bors for the poor women and match
girls of that locality almost pass be-
lief. She was known among them
simply as Annie" and addressed
familiarly by that name on all occa-
sions.
She was their organizer. their SYM
pathizer, and counselor, and it is SOL
emnly asserted that at one time she
denied herself necessary food to feed
them. 1t is said that so great was
the attachment of the poor for her
that she could visit localities in Lon
don with safety into which the armed
police would not venture, and that
she could dispel mob with her pres
ence and voice that had defied the
whole municipal force.
When she abandoned Christianity
she become a materalist. But while
writing review of Nine Blavatskys
Secret Doctrine" for William Stead
she was Unexpectedly converted to
the system herself, and became from
that time Blavatsky's apt and humble
disciple, to whom the great teacher
when dying bequeathed the mysterious
which she had received
from her own great teacher in the
East.
Mrs. Besant's history may be sum
med up as member of the Church of
England, atheist, Pantheist, Socialist,
editor, essayist, educator, labor or
ganizer, humanitarian and theosophist.
Her character is aptly described as
gifted, erratic and much-abused.