THEOSOPHICAL SQUABBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18563, 25 May 1922, Page 5

THEOSOPHICAL SQUABBLE

MR PIDDINGTON’S STA.ND. REPLY FROM MRS BESANT. Press •Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, May 24. (Received May 24, at 7.5 p.m.) Mrs Besant, in a letter to the press, says that Mr Piddington has been misinformed , regarding the facts. She has not referred Bishop Leadbeater’s challengers to the court because he has not been accused of crime. She only referred to the court’s cases of those accused of crimes. She reiterates that the allegations against Bishop Leadbeater were judicially investigated, and he was cleared of all blame. She expresses confidence in Bishop Leadbeater’s high character, shown in his splendid service, both public and private. She does not believe m trial by public meeting, nor does she propose to return evil for evil by bringing accusations against others. She does_ not believe the accusations and disassociates herself from the line of action of the accusers. [Mr Piddington resigned the presidency of the Public Questions Society of Sydney University, as ho was unable to agree to an invitation to Mrs Besant to address the students. In a- letter he explained that the society was in search of truth, and as Mrs Besant refused an inquiry into Mr Leadbeater’s career she was obviously out of her element, and was not entitled to be heard by a society which existed for the pursuit of truth.] (Fbom OtJB Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 17. _ Remarkable interest has been ai’oused in certain circles by the visit of Mrs Besant, head of the Theosophical Society. Most of Mrs Besant’s public utterances relate to the Government of India, in advocacy of constitutional reform in the direction of dominion status Mrs Besant deplores Gandhiism, but urges the justice of the appeal of moderate Indians for dominion status, and declares that some such measure alone can consolidate India as a contented unit of the Empire. The actual purpose of the visit, however, is in regard to the domestic affairs of the movement which’ she leads. The growth of what is known as the Liberal Catholic Church, a ceremonious institution which has gained considerable strength in Sydney and a year -or two ago purchased a commodious old church building, has been a matter of concern .to many members of the movement who hold that its principal value is as an investigatory body tied to no dogmas. 'The tendency to crystallise on the formula of the Liberal Catholic Church and for the society to bo identified with it has been growing, and Mrs Besant’s chief object is said to be to check it. It is known, too, that a grave scandal concerning the “Liberal Catholic Church” and its relation to the Theosophical Society is what is chiefly engaging Mrs Besant’s attention. Copies of charges against a certain prominent member of the “'Church” have been distributed among members of the Theosophical Society, and are of such a serious nature that a most searching inquiry is called for. If untrue they are most cruel and damaging. Gross immorality is alleged against at least one man, and it is asserted that the orders of the “Church” are bogus. As the Theosophical Society has been made the recruiting ground for members and officers of the “Church” a demand has arisen that the society shall be entirely dissociated from it. The head of this Liberal Catholic Church here is Bishop Leadbeater, a well-known figure in Sydney. Many persons of unquestionable moral worth are members of the “Church,” but, without doubt, the charges made have cast a shadow over the whole organisation. There is alleged to be a big police department file in the Crown Law Offices at this moment concerning a member of the “Liberal Catholic Church.”