Mabel Besant-Scott
Encyclopedia
Mabel Emily Besant-Scott ("Mabs") (Leckhampton
, Cheltenham
, 28 August 1870 —Gloucestershire
. 22 May 1952) was a Theosophist
, Co-Freemason and Rosicrucian
.
She was the daughter of the famous Theosophist, Secularist, and Co-Freemason Annie Besant
and her husband Rev. Frank Besant. She also had an older brother named Arthur Besant.
Mabel Besant married in 1892 at Marylebone
, London
, a journalist named Ernest Scott, and they emigrated to Australia
where he became a Roman Catholic. After her divorce Mabel Besant-Scott returned to England
. For some time she assisted her mother in both British
Co-Masonry and the Theosophical Society Adyar
. After her mother’s death Mabel Besant-Scott briefly became the head of the British Federation of Co-Freemasonry.
She abruptly resigned from Co-Freemasonry only a year later, and shortly afterwards joined the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship
, taking with her some of her followers from Co-Masonry. She was one of the most active members of this Rosicrucian
theatre
near Christchurch
, which was led by George Alexander Sullivan
.
Leckhampton
Leckhampton is a district in south Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The area constitutes a civil parish and is part of the district of Cheltenham.-History:...
, Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, 28 August 1870 —Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. 22 May 1952) was a Theosophist
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
, Co-Freemason and Rosicrucian
Rosicrucian
Rosicrucianism is a philosophical secret society, said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe...
.
She was the daughter of the famous Theosophist, Secularist, and Co-Freemason Annie Besant
Annie Besant
Annie Besant was a prominent British Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule.She was married at 19 to Frank Besant but separated from him over religious differences. She then became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society ...
and her husband Rev. Frank Besant. She also had an older brother named Arthur Besant.
Mabel Besant married in 1892 at Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, a journalist named Ernest Scott, and they emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where he became a Roman Catholic. After her divorce Mabel Besant-Scott returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. For some time she assisted her mother in both British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Co-Masonry and the Theosophical Society Adyar
Theosophical Society Adyar
The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the name of a section of the Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. Its headquarters moved with Blavatsky and president Henry Steel Olcott to Adyar, an area of Chennai in 1883...
. After her mother’s death Mabel Besant-Scott briefly became the head of the British Federation of Co-Freemasonry.
She abruptly resigned from Co-Freemasonry only a year later, and shortly afterwards joined the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship
Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship
The Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship was a Rosicrucian group founded by George Alexander Sullivan in about 1924. It may have existed under the name Order of Twelve from 1911–1914 and again from 1920. The ROCF operated first from the Liverpool area of England and then after the mid-1930s from...
, taking with her some of her followers from Co-Masonry. She was one of the most active members of this Rosicrucian
Rosicrucian
Rosicrucianism is a philosophical secret society, said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe...
theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
near Christchurch
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
, which was led by George Alexander Sullivan
George Alexander Sullivan
George Alexander Sullivan was the founder of the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship.Born in 1890 in Liverpool, Sullivan is believed to have organized a group named the Order of Twelve from 1911-1914 and again from 1920. In about 1924 it became known as the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship...
.