MRS BESANT.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8929, 20 October 1894, Page 9

MRS BESANT.

-♦- HER CONCLUDING LECTURE. Last evening Mrs Annie Besant gave her final lecture in Christchurch in the Theatre Royal, taking for her subject 4< Theosophy and its Teachings." Tbe lecture was perhaps the most powerful of the aeries, and gave Mis Besant every opportunity for the display of her pratorical powers. The lecturees commenced by stating that she had taken upon herself a difficult task in dealing with the question of Divine Wisdom, which underlay all our conditions upon earth. Following on Mrs Beaant traced the early history of the world, throughout which she claimed that the teachings of this Divine Wisdom were to be found. The literature of the early period was dealt with in forcible and convincing language, and the Bpread of religion was traced from its infancy. Ie was claimed that the religion of Theosophy was the moat ancient of all religions, and that as it spread over the world its forms altered to suit the peoples. . It was taught by Plato and Pytbagoraa, by Moses, and by Christ. Mrs Beaant paid a high tribute to Madame Biavatsky, who in a period of ten years had, so far as religion was concerned, revolutionised the world. The religion of Theosophy was no new thing as it was the source from which every religion had sprung. At considerable length Mrs Besant outlined the teachings of Theosophy which were that thinking that which is right and good influenced the minds of other individuals ia the community. "If you think evil," said Mrs Besant, "you build evil." "Ifyoutbink good you build g00d. ,. Those whose creeds satisfied their spiritual needs Mrs Besant said she would leave to choose for themselves, but she .maintained that in 'Theosophy they would find the true Divine wisdom and religion from which all others -were offshoots. During the eourae of the lecture Mrs Besant spoke with much eloquence and earnestness, and at times was ■warmly applauded by the large audience present, tt ho apparently evinced great interest in her remarks. . Mrs Besant, who has been visited by a very number of people during her stay Here, will lea.ye for Dunedih to-day.