Dr Annie Besant, the Noted theosophist

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7269, 23 September 1933, Page 4

Dr Annie Besant, the Noted theosophist

Dr. Annie Besant (whose death is reported from Madras), president of the Tlieosophical Society and editor of The Thcosophist and New India (an English weekly of Madras, formerly a daily), author and lecturer on religious, philosophical and scientific subjects, was born on October 1, 18-17. She was the daughter of William Page Wood; she married, in 1867, the Rev. Frank Besant (died 1917), vicar of Sibsey, Lincolnshire, and had one son and one daughter. She was educated privately in England, Germany and France, and took honours in botany at the preliminary science examination, London University, and at South Kensington Science and Art examination, 1879. She joined tho National Secular ■ Society in 1874, and worked in the free-thought and radical movements led by Charles Bradlaugh, M.P. She was co-editor with him of Tho National Reformor, 1877, and wrote many political and free-thought books and pamphlets ; was prominent in the Labour and Socialist movements, and a member of tho Fabian Society and Social Democratic Federation. She organised the Socialist Defence Association in 1887, and took an active part in trades union work among unskilled labourers, and, with Herbert Burrows, led the great match girls' strike to a successful conclusion in 1888, and aided 1110 defence of public meetings in London. She was a member of the London School Board (for Tower Hamlets), 1887-90, but refused rc-election. Airs Besant joined the Tlieosophical Society in 1889, became a devoted pupil of Madame Blavatsky, and travelled to all parts of the globe in its service. She was elected its president in 1907, and was re-elected in 1914, 1921, and 1928. She founded in 1898 the Central Hindu College at Benares; 1904, the Central Hindu Girls’ School (later collego), Benares, and helped to found the Hindu University of Benares, and was on its Court, Council and Senate. She was made a Doctor of Literature by the University in 1919, in recognition of her services to education. She founded the Home Rule League, and was elected its president in 1916. She was interned by the Government of Madras in July, 19.17, but was released after three months. She was elected president of the Indian National Congress in December, 1917, and general secretary of tho National Convention of India in 1923. She founded tho Indian Boy Scout movement in 1918, which was amalgamated, in 1921, with the Baden-Powell Scouts. She was honorary Commissioner for all India of the Boy Scout Alovement, in 1921, and received the “Silver "Wolf” distinction in September, 1932.