THEOSOPHISTS

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4593, 19 May 1922, Page 3

THEOSOPHISTS

■ CONTINUE- THEIR WRANGLING MRS BESANT LECTURERS THE DISPUTANTS. (By Electric (Aust.N.Z. Cablo Association.) Sydney, May 18. The- arrival of Mrs Annie Besanl had brought to head thoubl'o which for a considerable time- has been brewing amongst- Sydney Thoosophists and tho Liberal i; Catholic Church, whose membership is chiefly recruited from amongst Thcosopliists. Serious charges have been made regarding certain members of the Liberal iiCtholic Church, and the statu? of its seTf-tyled bishops. ; It-is also a bone of contention that in some quarters their title is regarded as bogus. Mrs Besant attended a meeting at which tho trouble was aired. After delivering an address on the Theosophical doctrine, she said she deprecated the circulation by members of the Thoosophical Society, of statements' regarding other members and tlu> Liberal Catholic Church. She added that in consequence of the treatment she had received- at the hands of tho executive she would refuse to speak on the platform again until the executive was reconstructed. Till then, farewell. After Mrs Besant's departure, the meeting was noisy, her action being vigorously condemned by some speakers. Finally a motion was carried, amid much dissent, justifying the position of Bishop Lcadbeator, of the Thoospohical Society and as head of the Liberal Catholic Church. The meeting ended in great disorder. (Received May 19, 1 p.m.) Sydney, May 19. Mrs Annie Besant, who is on a lecturo tour from India, in a letter to the press, states that the Theosophical Society, of which she is leader, has no connection with the Liberal Catholic Church. But she accepted an invitation to speak to its Sydney congregation. To. her surprise, a small group of the officers of the Sydney Theosophical Society had taken advantage of the publicity of her visit to make an attack, which for some years had been carried on against the Liberal Cathlic Church. She deals at length 'with charges made against Mr Lcadbeator, her associate, which ' she states she investigated and found unfounded. She adds: All the trou- , ble in Australia, is made by a small ■ knot of people in tho Sydney Society. Mr Leadbeater, in a letter _to the press, quotes authorities for his right ; to assume tho title of Bishop. ,