Post by whistler on Nov 5, 2004 1:29:36 GMT
Thank you for this Yoki,
It is too interesting not to share
Anne Besant is an unsung heroine of the nineteenth century, in fact humanity and women in general has much to thank her for.
Finding her marriage to the Rev Frank Besant an English clergyman stifling she legally separated and left to live in London were she began the career of a social reformer. Here she met and became friends with Charles Bradlaugh who later became a Member of Parliament. Together they decided to publish The Fruits of Philosophy, Charles Knowlton's book advocating birth control. Besant and Bradlaugh were charged with publishing material that was "likely to deprave or corrupt those minds are open to immoral influences". Bradlaugh and Besant argued in court that "we think it more moral to prevent conception of children than, after they are born, to murder them by want of food, air and clothing." Besant and Bradlaugh were both found guilty of publishing an "obscene libel" and sentenced to six months in prison. At the Court of Appeal the sentence was quashed. Besant now wrote and published her own book advocating birth control entitled The Laws of Population. This win to their Apple opened the way for further information about birth control to be published
Again working for women's rights she published an article White Slavery in London where she drew attention to the dangers of phosphorus fumes and complained about the low wages paid to the women who worked at Bryant & May.
Three women who provided information for Annie's article were sacked. Annie responded by helping the women at Bryant & May to form the Match-girls Union. After a three week strike, Bryant & May were forced to make significant concessions including the re-employment of the three victimised women.
Annie Besant was elected to the London School Board were she made achievements included a programme of free meals for undernourished children and free medical examinations for all those in elementary schools. She also wrote letters to British newspapers arguing the case for women's suffrage and in 1911 was one of the main speakers at an important suffragist rally in London.
Round about this time she joined the theosophical society and went to live in India were she joined the struggle for Indian Home Rule, and was interned by the British authorities for doing so.
Apart from all of the above Annie Besant helped establish and write the ritual of the Co Masonic movement through out the English speaking world including personally forming lodges here in New Zealand.
To my mind Annie Besant is more than a footnote of history this women who was well ahead of her time is one of histories greats.
I forgot the fact that she wrote a large number of books many covering the field of esotericism.
[written by Yoki}
It is too interesting not to share
Anne Besant is an unsung heroine of the nineteenth century, in fact humanity and women in general has much to thank her for.
Finding her marriage to the Rev Frank Besant an English clergyman stifling she legally separated and left to live in London were she began the career of a social reformer. Here she met and became friends with Charles Bradlaugh who later became a Member of Parliament. Together they decided to publish The Fruits of Philosophy, Charles Knowlton's book advocating birth control. Besant and Bradlaugh were charged with publishing material that was "likely to deprave or corrupt those minds are open to immoral influences". Bradlaugh and Besant argued in court that "we think it more moral to prevent conception of children than, after they are born, to murder them by want of food, air and clothing." Besant and Bradlaugh were both found guilty of publishing an "obscene libel" and sentenced to six months in prison. At the Court of Appeal the sentence was quashed. Besant now wrote and published her own book advocating birth control entitled The Laws of Population. This win to their Apple opened the way for further information about birth control to be published
Again working for women's rights she published an article White Slavery in London where she drew attention to the dangers of phosphorus fumes and complained about the low wages paid to the women who worked at Bryant & May.
Three women who provided information for Annie's article were sacked. Annie responded by helping the women at Bryant & May to form the Match-girls Union. After a three week strike, Bryant & May were forced to make significant concessions including the re-employment of the three victimised women.
Annie Besant was elected to the London School Board were she made achievements included a programme of free meals for undernourished children and free medical examinations for all those in elementary schools. She also wrote letters to British newspapers arguing the case for women's suffrage and in 1911 was one of the main speakers at an important suffragist rally in London.
Round about this time she joined the theosophical society and went to live in India were she joined the struggle for Indian Home Rule, and was interned by the British authorities for doing so.
Apart from all of the above Annie Besant helped establish and write the ritual of the Co Masonic movement through out the English speaking world including personally forming lodges here in New Zealand.
To my mind Annie Besant is more than a footnote of history this women who was well ahead of her time is one of histories greats.
I forgot the fact that she wrote a large number of books many covering the field of esotericism.
[written by Yoki}