The Theosophical Society was founded by the Ukrainian mystic, Madame Blavatsky, in New York in 1895. This esoteric religion preached that contemporary religious practices and dogmas had corrupted pure and true communication with God.
The Theosophical Society was based on three key principles:
- To form a brotherhood which did not distinguish between sex, race, class or creed,
- To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science,
- To investigate natural law and the latent powers of man.
Annie Besant and the 'Law of Population'
Annie Besant converted to Theosophy in 1889 but had already established herself as figure of notoriety in England. In 1877 she published a pamphlet encouraging women to use contraception and arguing that recreational sex within marriage was a healthy activity for women. She was prosecuted for such outrageous views, which directly contravened Victorian beliefs about sex and marriage, but this did little to deter Annie.
During the 1890s, she played an active role in the Theosophical movement. She spoke at the Congress in 1893 and dedicated much of her time to conducting occult investigations with another prominent Theosophist, Charles W. Leadbetter. By 1907, she had become the International President of the Theosophical Society and had relocated to India.
The Rise of the Theosophical Society in England
It was a small group of spiritualists and Freemasons who gave Theosophy who were responsible for its popularity in England. They built the first Theosophical Society branch in London in 1911, which was opened by Annie Besant and, by the 1920s, they counted thousands of members.
But what had caused Theosophy to become so popular and who could identify with its message?
Theosophy and the Women's Suffrage Movement
Historians, such as Joy Dixon, have emphasised the many links between Theosophy and feminism. In June 1911, for example, a group of Theosophists, led by Annie Besant, marched alongside several English suffrage societies. The suffrage possession had been organised by Kate Harvey, a Theosophist and member of the Women's Freedom League, and she was not the only women in attendance who belonged to both societies.
Historians Robert Ellwood and Catherine Wessinger have higlighted how Theosophy gave women the opportunity to travel, lecture and rise to prominent positions in the organisational structure of the Theosophical society. They cite Blavatsky and Besant as two key examples of such freedoms.
Theosophy's Rejection of Traditional Christian Views Of Women
Theosophy offered women spiritual equality in a way that Chrisitanity did not. It rejected the idea of the Fall, did not blame women for original sin and redefined divinity in feminine and masculine terms.
There is no evidence to suggest that every Theosophist woman was a feminist but it certainly offered a "spritual home" for many feminists in the early 20th century. Neither did it follow a specific feminist, political program. Needless to say, Theosophy offered many women opportunities that early 20th century society kept from their reach, and regarded men and women as spiritual equals.
References:
- Dixon, Joy. (2001) Divine Feminine: Theosophy and Feminism in England. Maryland: John Hopkins UP.
- Ellwood, Robert, & Wessinger, Catherine, (1993) The Feminism of 'Universal Brotherhood': Women in the Theosophical Movement. In Wessinger, Catherine (ed.), Women's Leadership in Marginal Religions: Explorations Outside the Mainstream. Illinois: University of Illinois Press, pp. 68-87.
- Osborne, Frances. (2008) The Bolter. London: Virago Press
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