THEOSOPHISTS IN COURT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1652, 20 January 1913, Page 3

THEOSOPHISTS IN COURT.

« — STRANGE ACTION AGAINST MRS. " ANNIE BESANT. , ( Theosophists all' over the world are watching with the keenest interest (says tliq "Manchester Guardian") a case now i being - heart!/by the, IXistrict Judge of Chingleput, Madras, tho district in which the Theosbphical headquarters aro situated. i, A Hindu Government pensioner is suing Mrs. Annie Besant for the restitution of his two sons—Krislmainurti, aged .17, and Nityananda, aged 14—who aro now being educated undfr her direction in' England. The plaint alleges that in 1909 the boys were placed in charge,of Mr. C. \V. Leadbeater, but as the plaintiff was dissatisfied with tho moral and intellectual education his sons were receiving,- Mrs. Besant undertook to tako them to England, and be responsible for their education. Last year the plaintiff was informed that tho boys were making rapid, spiritual progress, and "were approaching initiation by tho Masters." Tho plaintiff further submits that, the defendant "has been stating that (lie first i boy, who is named Alcyone, is;, or is going to bo Lord Christ, und sometimes that he is Lord Maitroya . . .with tho result i that tho boy is deified, and that a num- •! bcr of respectable persons • prostrate'.'before him and-show other signs" of wor- ( ship." / I Mrs. Besant s defence is no less interesting. After an unqualified denial of most of the plaintiff's statements, sho affirms that "the boy is not deified, but is a happy, healthy lad, fond of tennis and rowing. It is true that respectable people havo prostrated themselves before him," but it was /lis father who began it two years ago. Mrs. Besant submits that tho 'suit has been brought from political motives and personal malice, "in pursuance. of-n set T lied policy to destroy her lifo or reputation, bceauso she has held back tho student population of India from participation in the plots of the extremists, and has sought lo inspire them with kyalfy lo tho Empire."