The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
MRS. .BESANT NOT
BARRED OUT BY
THE EDFLLCLUB
Report That Hall Would Be
Closed Against TheosOphist
Leader Proves to Be False
Local Members of Cult Pay No
Heed TO Charges by, Rival
Faction

OAKLAND. Aug. 27.-Mrs. Annie
.sesant the president OF the, theosophi-
raj society. founder of schools in India
and noted lecturer on the philosophy OF
he east. win speak in Oakland al
. Eben hall two nights OF next week
Notwithstanding persistent rumors tC
.he contrary The ominous echoes OF
he strife in theosoRhical circles which
was waged for two bitter years around
: the head Of c. ". LeadDeater OF
: Benares, India, have sounded here. but
the dissension viii not result in ar
a sbrogation of arrangements for Mrs
Besants appearance
RUMOR Is GROUNDLEsS
The most persistent rumor TO the
opposite in club circles was that the
Eben club building association would
refuse the use Of the club auditorium
tuesday and Wednesday evening OF
). next week This tale proved ground
: less Mrs John A BeckWith. secretary
of the Ebell building association, de-
clared today tnat the auditorium had
been contracted for by the local rheo-
-sophical society that the society hao
paid the required deposit and that the
use of the auditorium. which is really
i "A public hail. would be rented as
q greed upon with the disciples Of the
occult.
Miss EIinor Stoy. who during the
absence Of DR. Mary c. Plumb. is in
charge of the affairs of the local theo-
sophical union. reiterated that Mrs
Besant would appear. In so doing she
declined to discuss the Leadbeater
p. controversy.
MAINTAINS ITS TRADITIONS
The attitude of the local theosoph-
.-1cal society is that OF a denomination
which maintains its traditions. The
charges in this country were made
p gainst Leadbeater by ]. II. Fussell.
secretary Of the Universal brotherhood
=. and theosophical society, over which
AIRS. Katherine Tingley presides at
Point Loma. Mrs. Tingley is regarded
b. Mrs Besant's followers as sedi-
against Beadbeater are considered the
% offspring Of the rift in the theosoph-
ical organization.
Leadbeater is charged with having
iaught immortality TO boys at Benares.
= He left the society and was later re-
instated by Mrs. Besant. Hence the
charges that the noted English woman,
kinswoman Of Sir Walter Besant, the
graceful Victorian essayist and novel;
ist. was eOndoning the alleged offenses
against morality on the part of Lead
p beater.
PROGRAM FOR LECTU RES
Mrs. Plumb has gone to Seattle TO
Join Mrs. Besant" said Miss Stoy.
with Mrs. Bessnt win be A. p War
rington Of Norfolk. Va, and DR.. Mary
B. Weeks of Chicago The party OF
four viii reach San Francisco Saturday
and go TO the Fairmont Mrs Besan nj
viii lecture st the Garrick theater in
san Francisco Saturday night. Monday
she viii be at Sacramento and Tuesday
and wednesday in Oakland. The story
of our being barred from Ebell hall is
absurd.
OF DISTINGUISHED LINEAGE
: Mrs Besant. the storm center of the
charges made. was the founder OF the
. Central Hindu school at Benares, India
and organized a similar school there for
girls. She organized last year the pa
: triotic societies. Sons OF India and
Daughters Of India. The societies now
have 300 branches. She became presi-
dent OF the theosophical society in 1907
succeeding Colonel Olcott. In England
Mrs. Besant was a member Of the Fab
. ian society. and was on the Londor
school board. besides her Affiliations
with the Social democratic federation
She is born Of a famous English so
ciety. her mother having been descend
ed from French kings. and Lord Chan
cellor Hatherley having been a close
connection.