The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-09-15
the PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
Twentieth Annual Convention Of the
American Branch May Prove
Turbulent one-split is Quite
Probable.

United States and foreign lands. .
banded toge :her to form neucleus
OF the Universal Brotherhood OF .
Humanity. without distinction of .
race, creed. sex. caste or color" are
assembled iu the Windy City today I
to participate in the sessions Of the
twentieth annual convention Of the
American section OF the Theosophical
Society Of the World, which opens
tomorrow at Kimball hall While
preaching gospel of love that
Is as wide and deep as humanity
Theosophists spell Humanity with
a capital H-there is every pros.
pect that the coming session may
develop quarrels and brawls such
as are not unusual among those
who live on the earthly plane"
This possibility is due to the pres.
ence here of Mrs Annie Besant, of
Adyar. India. who was recently ell
ected world president OF the Theo-
r0HhlSAHs ll SlNNtoSAOl " AAE
Henry Steel Olcott. The opposition
to Mrs. Besant has been exceeding.
ly virulent among a portion of the
American members, and 1t is freely
predicted that her presence at the
convention will result in another
split. Alexander Fullerton OF New
York, for many years general sec
rotary OF the society in America,
has been one of Mrs. Besants most
strenuous opponents.
The American opposition to the
gifted Mrs. Besant-eyen her en-.
OF rare talent and undoubted gen.
ius-is based largely on ethical
grounds, although the question OF
spi.l,ualism also enters. The more
con srvative element among, the.
tn, 5sophists fear that Mrs. Besant
VIII again place Charles W. Lead.
oea'er, former prominent Theo.
sophist who was driven from the
American society because of gross
immortality. In position of infuen.
ce. Mrs. Besant has announced that
no moral standard is necessary or re
quir, d for membership In the society
and that Leadbeaters expulsion was
therefore unwarranted None has
the right to exclude his brother for
differences OF thought or mode OF
lite, declares the feminine high
priest None can claim for his own
thought or mode OF life fuller lib.
erty OF expression than he claims
for that Of another Toier,nce. even
with the intolerant, must be the
rule"
OtAer American members oppose
Mrs. Besant because OF the new
dogma promulgated by her that
the affairs OF the society are gov.
erned and her nomination and elec.
ton made possible by invisible mar.
'N'' VI N4A' NIlllN Nbl ~. MS
infusion OF the dscredited doctrines
| OF decaying spiritualism Is a bitter
pill for many Theosophlsts to swal.
low, and i, is possible that they may
spew IL out and the world leader
along with It,
An effort will be made to commit
the convention to a moral code and
10 some expression of opinion that
will prevent the society becoming a
spiritdalistic side show, with the
Little Bright Eyes" Indian guild.
es trance artists, mediums and slate
writer's. Smityen with the American
idea that morality and decency are
II c's airy requisites 10 nigh thinking
and r.-ht living, the American mem
bers will attempt 10 adopt a proyis.
ion Tat will prevent the society
from becoming a refuge for moral
peryeIts. Ii Is pointed out that
Mrs. Besan- whom prom ! III
throughout the world as an atheist
and co-worker with Charles Brad
laugh. Robert lngersol and other
famous frecth.ukrrs. pr,achT
moral doctrine 20 which none could
aka RECEPTION ara taat IL is ouy
since she has become a quasi be-
lever In sp.ritual.sm thar she has
ceased TO emphasize the necessity
OF right living
Whatever action may be taken. lt
IS evident that the congress here
will be an important one in the his.
tory OF the Theosophical movement.
Mlldnwed theories which iourished
In Asia thousands Of years ago
will be rehearsed and ventilated by