Theosophy in Wales

Ancient & Modern

History of the Theosophical Society in Wales

Welsh Theosophy and

“The League of Prohibition

of Cruel Sports”

1926

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Blood-sports, dear to the heart of man, have to be renounced as cruel and unworthy of a theosophist

A E Powell 1914

Concern for the welfare of animals has always been a key issue with Theosophists everywhere and members have always generally regarded animals as fellow beings. There has always been an overwhelming opposition to blood sports, even among members who are not vegetarian. The TS in Wales has consistently been engaged in fund raising for animal charities since the early days and this continues today. In his final days General Secretary, Peter Freeman refused pain killers because thay had been tested on animals and in his 80s Cardiff Lodge President, Charles James, in spite of considerable discomfort, refused a medication because it contained an animal product.

In April 1926, Peter Freeman proposed that Mr Henry Amos, The Secretary for “The League of Prohibition of Cruel Sports” give a lecture at Cardiff Lodge. The League was at that time a relatively new organization only being formed two years earlier in 1924. Peter Freeman was an early member and remained so until his death in 1956. The League still continues as “The League against Cruel Sports”. Peter’s proposal was unanimously accepted and the lecture took place in October with a change to Mr Percy Hurst, Chairman of the League, as speaker. The lecture was well attended and well received.

Mr Hurst’s lecture stimulated many Theosophists to action and in 1927 the TS in Wales held its first Animal Welfare Week. This involved a wide range of fund raising activities and awareness programmes. The event was held every year up to World War II

Peter Freeman as an MP (Brecon & Radnor 1929-31 and Newport (West) 1945-56 often raised issues in Parliament regarding the suffering of animals. He introduced a bill to ban fox hunting in 1929, almost as soon as he had become an MP, and pursued the issue throughout his parliamentary career. In a well reported incident in 1930, he raised a parliamentary question about the boiling of lobsters alive. This provoked outrage and indignation at the time and Peter was subjected to some ridicule in the press.

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Theosophical Society, Cardiff Lodge,

206 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 – 1DL.