Well-known humanist and journalist W.T.Stead writes of Annie Besant: There are few living women who have in them more of some elements of the Christian saint than this fiery assailant of the Christian creed.

He traces the various phases of her search for truth, during which she often had to choose between her convictions and her affections. But the great saying 'Whoso  loveth  father or mother and friends more than Me is not worthy of Me' ever sounded in her soul and without faltering she followed her convictions.