SCANDAL ALLEGED.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1922, Page 5

SCANDAL ALLEGED.

DOINGS OF THEOSOPHISTS, GRAVE CHARGES MADE. A BITTER CONTROVERSY, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 26, 7.15 p.m. Sydney, May 26. Mr. A. B. Peddington, replying to Mrs. Besant, reviews the whole position regarding the allegations against Mr. Leadbeater. He says she must meet the real question: How can she, a professed priestess of truth and an inspired leader of morals, shield by her personal influence as a colleague, Mr. Leadbeater, who has admitted teaching boys a certain vice? After dealing with the evidence when the case was before the Madras Court in 1906 and traversing her previous letter, Mr. Peddington concludes: Mrs. Besant’s chief colleague here stated as late as 1913 in open court that he still believed in teaching a detestable vice to boys, which he had previously taught them. An English Judge for this reason declared him an immoral person. Mr. Leadbeater is still alleged to be what an English Judge said of him. Mrs. Besant has shielded Mr. Leadbeater from inquiry and finally Mr. Leadbeater says nothing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received May 26, 10.30 p.m. Sydney, May 26. Acting under Ministerial instructions the Inspector-General of Police has ordered the fullest enquiries to be made into the allegations concerning persons (connected with the Theosophical (Society. Several boys were taken to police headquarters and interrogated.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Mrs. Besant, in a letter to the Press referring to the resignation of Mr. A. B. Peddington from the presidency of the Public Questions Society of Sydney University because he was unable to agree to an invitation to Mrs. Besant to address students, stated that Mr. Peddington has been misinformed regarding the facts. She has not referred Mr. Leadbeater’s challengers to the Court, because he has not been accused of any crime, and she only referred to the Court cases of those accused of crimes. She reiterated that the allegations against Mr. Leadbeater were judicially investigated, and that he was cleared of all blame. She expressed confidence in Mr. Leadbeater’s high character and splendid service, both public and private.