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[[File:Herbert Burrows.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Herbert Burrows]]
'''Herbert Burrows''' ([[June 12]], 1845 – [[December 14]], 1922) was a British socialist activist and a [[Theosophist]]. He had a longstanding friendship with [[Annie Besant]] with whom he organized the famous London matchgirls strike of 1888.

== Personal life ==

== Social activism ==

[[File:July 1891 London HQ workers.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Workers at London HQ of TS, July 1891]]
== Theosophical Society involvement ==

On May 10, 1889, Burrows accompanied his friend [[Annie Besant]] in a visit to [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky]], who was then living at Landsdowne Road.<ref>Alexander Fullerton, "Reminiscences of the Early Days of American Section T. S. " ''The Theosophic Messenger'' 10 no.2 *November 1908): 37.</ref> He was admitted to the Blavatsky Lodge of the [[Theosophical Society]] in London on May 21, 1889.<ref>Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at [http://tsmembers.org/ http://tsmembers.org/]. See book 1, entry 4986 (website file: 1B/54).</ref> Later that year, he and Annie Besant attended a labor congress in Paris, and had a memorable visit with HPB in Fountainebleau: 

<blockquote>
In 1889 Annie Besant and I were with her in France at the Forest of Fountainebleau, and while there she went over with us in manuscript part of ''The Voice of the Silence''. Looking back on that time, I remember that the passages over which she was most impressive were those which describe the toilsome ascent of the pilgrim-soul. In the copy of the book which she gave me and which will never leave me, she has written, "To Herbert Burrows, my old friend in another and better incarnation, from his ever-loving H.P.B." It may be that in those words lie part of the key to the life that we knew.<ref>''Lucifer'' 8 (June, 1891): 301-302.</ref>
</blockquote>

For several years he spent time with Madame Blavatsky and the people in her household. He had to say of her:
<blockquote>
Her absolute indifference to all outward forms was a true indifference based upon her inner spiritual knowledge of the verities of the universe. Setting by her when strangers came, as they often did from every corner of the earth, I have often watched with the keenest amusement their wonder at seeing a woman who always said what she thought. Given a prince and she would probably shock him, given a poor man and he would have her last shilling and her kindliest word.<ref>Daniel H. Caldwell, ''The Occult World of Madame Blavatsky'' (Tucson, Arizona: Impossible Dream Publications, 1991), 272-273.</ref>
</blockquote>

After HPB's death in 1891, Burrowns continued working with the London Theosophists, but gradually became disenchanted with the Theosophists. He found his own interpretations for events and the motivations of his coworkers:
<blockquote>
Mrs. Besant ''Knows'' that both [[Henry Steel Olcott|Col. Olcott]] and [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|Mr. Sinnett]] believe Madame Blavatsky to have been fraudulent; but she has had as yet neither the moral courage nor the honesty to say so. On the contrary, she quotes them in ''Lucifer'' as the all-round staunch and firm upholders of H.P.B., while at the same time she upbraids those who wish the real truth known as besmirchers and practical traitors.<ref>Letter to the editor of ''The English Theosophist'', quoted in ''The Path'' 10 No.10 (January, 1896): 328.</ref>  
</blockquote>

He could not cite evidence that Annie Besant "knew" such a thing, or that Olcott ever failed in his devotion to and comradely love for Madame Blavatsky. Sinnett was jealous of the Mahatmas' favor for HPB, but did not consider her to be a fraud. Burrows repeated these same nebulous charges in ''Borderland'' <ref>"To the Editor of Borderland" ''The Light of the East'' 4 no.3(November, 1895): 67.</ref>

In another letter to ''The English Theosophist'' dated October 2, 1895, Burrows accused Col. Olcott of "grave immorality," and of having an affair with [[Henrietta Muller]], which was highly improbable. Burrows put his own spin on things. He resigned very publicly from the Theosophical Society late in 1895. That was not the end of his involvement, however. In 1907-1908, there was a scandal that followed [[Charles Webster Leadbeater]] encouraging some of his young assistants to masturbate (in lieu of seeking out prostitutes). Mrs. Besant let it be known that she would be willing to permit Leadbeater to remain a member of the TS. Burrows joined [[G. R. S. Mead]] and Edith Ward in writing a letter representing the minority view of English Theosophists who opposed Besant's view.<ref>"What Certain British Members Say about Mrs. Besant's Letter" ''Theosophic Voice'' 1 no.3 (November-January, 1908-1909): 81-82.</ref>

== Editorial work and writing ==

Burrows wrote letters to the editors and articles for periodicals including ''Justice'', ''The English Theosophist'', ''Borderland'', ''Light'', and others.

=== Pamphlets===

* '''''Theosophical Tract #3: Theosophy and Roman Catholicism'''''. Pamphlet. c1892.

=== Books ===
* '''''The Future of Woman'''''. London: Twentieth Century Press, 1909.
* '''''Zola'''''. Biography of novelist Emile Zola.

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Nationality English|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Associates of HPB|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Leaders|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Social activists|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Vegetarians|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Government workers|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Writers|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Editors|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:TS Adyar|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:Famous people|Burrows, Herbert]]
[[Category:People|Burrows, Herbert]]