Annie Besant 
Theosophy 

Besant had found the economic side oflife lacking a spiritual dimension, so shesearched for a belief based on ‘;Love’. Shefound this in Theosophy, so she joinedthe Theosophical Society, a move thatdistanced her from Bradlaugh and otherformer activist co-workers. Her decisionto join the Theosophical Society met astorm of criticism from her formerassociates in London. To explain herchange of view, on August 4 and 11, 1889, she delivered a lecture in the Hallof Science on the subject ‘;Why I Becamea Theosophist.’On September 4 of that year, in HPB’s house, she met H. S. Olcott, co-founder of the Theosophical Society and international President. He immediately recognized her value. He wrote in Old Diary Leaves: ‘;At the time of my [first] visit I had the chance to see of what infinite tenderness and unselfish com pass i on M rs Be s ant was capable, ‘[12] and, ‘;She is the most important gain to us since Sinnett.’