STUDENTS OF TROTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 139, 14 June 1893, Page 4

STUDENTS OF TROTH.

STATEMENT BY MRS WORTHINGTON.

SHE NARRATES HER CAREER.

EXTRAORDINARY DISCLOSURES

(BY TELEGRAPH.— OWS CQBEESPONDENT.) Chrjstchukch, this day. TAKE UP THY PEN AND WRITE f In reply to my request for an interview, in order to get details of her connection witn the man known as A. Bantley Worthington, Sister Mtigdala informed me two days ago, that the matter was too extensive to be dealt with in that \» ay.. She, however, undertook to draw up a written sbatemsnt, and having now obtained that, I forward it with but slight omission of immaterial details. Sister Magdala'a reasons for complying with my request are thus stated: She felt that a woman who has assumed the position of a public teacher owed a duty to the public" to prove that ehe was deserving of the confidence which she asked them to bestow on har, and that, moreover, the very peculiar circumstances in which she is placed render it necosaary for her to relate her pasb and to explain the motives for her actions. Her statement is as follows :— With scmebbiug of the spirit that moved our Lord to utter these words of warning, " Woo unto you, Scribes and Pharasoeß, hypocrites," do I approach the solemn duty placed upon me by mighty truth, through the instrumentality of tho righteous demand made upon be by the correspondent of the "Star." I will be so open as and as true aa I have seamed to be evasive or untrue in my vain efforts to save him before whom I havo placed the opportunity to walk in the path of justice aad rectitude. I have earnestly hoped his eye« might be openod to his moral turpitude without harsher means than those already adopted by me. I will first sketch bnefiy and in the third person, my career.

MRS PLUNKETT- WORTHINGTON'S STORY.

My first meeting with Mr Worthington was 24 years ago next September. Miss Mary J. Hodgkiiis was married to John J. Plunketb in Stata of Maine, U.S.A., she was teacher for many years previous to her marriage, and continued in the i-ame work afterwards. Altogether, she followed the profession with much success for over twenty years. In 1574 she was appointed Professor of. Music in the public schools of the old and aristocratic town oi Newbury Port, Massachusetts. This position she hold for one year at a salary of £200, and had 8,000 children under weekly instruction. At fcbio close of this engagement she entered upon teaching of largo classes in singing, adults as well children. Later, she Rave children's choral concerts, the last of which took pkce in Worcester, Massachusetts, tn 1875, when over 400 children participated in the programme. It required six weeks to prepare this concert. The sxpenses were £110 and the receipts £540. leaving £200 earned in six weeks. At another time, she went into a new city, a perfect stranger, and started a course of lectures. At the ertd of six weeks sha had taker. money to the amount of £600. Her work has always been successful, because she never undertake? anything iuto which she cannot throw her vholo soul. Following this heavy toil, she found her health much impaired, and shortly after left tho Eastern States and went far Went to reside, always, however, keeping up her interest in charitable and philanthropic work. She was an ardent advocate of the enfranchisement of women, an and interested student of the laws of heredity. In 1879 she was appointed director for the western district by the Institute ot Heredity, Boston. Sha was also instrumental in founding the home for girls. The nexe 12 or 14 years of her life were comparatively uneventful, because of her in-creasing-ill health, though she never lost interest in all reforms that promised something for the race. If there was one thing more than another which she had studied, it was what seemed to her the sorrowful aspect of marriage. Her heart seemed never to cease achine at the pitiful stories to which she was obliged to listen in her charitable work. She heard fclsa beating of hearts, she saw the sodden eye and sunken cheek of her sisiers when they were scarcely two years removed from the glamour of the marriage feast ; she saw " hoped deferred! and final abandon of all they held dear because they saw no way out savo through death or that more horrible door—the insane asylum. Although brought up under the strictest religious teaching, her faith in God and nil else that was good failed her, and it seemed to her that evil alone reigned instead of God, and many long months she spent in a desire, amounting to a prayer, for annihilation.

THE "CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS."

This, however, was not to be, for in the spring of 1884 she wa9 an invalid, forced to try Christian Science,and through its teachings she found health, hope, and the true living God. It was now a new world to her and sho resolved to threw herself i heart and soul with all she possessed into tho propagation of what was thon a new and unpopular system or religious teaching, very often accompanied by Iho most remarkable oases of physical healing. Accordingly, in the summer ot 1886, she founded a school in known as tho Hopkin College of Christian Science, and in November, 1887, started a magazine called "Truth," published by the Truth Publishing Company. This was issued monthly until July, 1388, when its form was changed to the " International Magazine of Christian Science." Meantime, Mrs PUnkett had removed her headquarters to 13, West Forty-second Street, New York city, where she formed a new publishing company known as the " Unity Publishing Company. :1 She held large monthly classes at her spacious quarters, a ■regular training class every Wednesday evening, and Sunday afternoon servico. Sho had with her a very able associate editor, Margaret Ford Moran. There were healers, teachers, and assistants at the New York office numbering nearly a dozen, all working happily together, besides branch schools in Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco, Louisville, Williameporb, Dayton, Pittsburgh, -Milwaukee, and permantown. Mrs Plunketb had lectured in all cities, founded these schools, and left thorn in the care of competent instructors. Mosb of them ui'G in existence to-day. The magazine had over 5,000 subscribers.

WORTHINGTUN APPEARS ON THE SCENE.

It was on this happy band of workers (.hat a man, oalliufi himself A. Bent!;/ YVorfcbJngton, fell'like a thunderbolt from a clear*sky oa the evening of February 7th, 1889. (Note by Magdala—" Thu3 far 1 have written in the third person ; I now speak in tho first.") On this date Mrs Henrietta Fornwortb, ono of nsy students, was sitting with me in my offieo. Thai day's work was over and she waa telling me of the meetings siie had attended two night 3 previously. She said she had met quite a remarkable, gentleman there, _ a stranger to whom she had spoken after the meeting was over, inviting him to come to our Wednesday evening. " But," said she, i " I looked for him last night and he was not there. Here he comes now," We looked towards tho door, and saw a gentleman entering. Ho came forward (and after asking him aside his namo) she introduced him to me as Mr Wortbington. I entered into conversation concerning the teaching which be had

called to inquire about. Ho raentioDod .having an uncle who, ho said, had robbed his Fi»bher of money that rightfully bnlouged to him, which he had coma hoping to iocovet. 1 said :"1 am sorry you did not) come a day earlier. I opened a new course to-day, and if you are to remain lons enough, 1 think you would iind it greatly to your advantage to listen to the entire course." He said he would do so. On" March Ist, 1889, ho wrote tho followiag, which is now in ray possession :— ' AN EXTRAORDINARY DECLA.RA. TION.

A. B. Worthington declared : I failed to go ou Wednesday evening, but did go on Thursday evening, February 7ih, indifferently and carelessly. As I opi>nu4 the door of No. IG, \Ye3b Forty-second-street, I heard Mrs Farnsworth *ay, "There he is now." Looking I saw Mrs Farnaworth and another lady with grey hair and loving kind eyes that seemed to say, "Be of good choer, look up," I came in and was introduced to those eyes. They were all I b»w aa I heard the naino Mia Pluiiketfc. She regretted I had nob been at class to join at the commeucoment, and then and there gave mo a lesson of tho course. I can hardly stale the condition of my mind nb that' time 6ave that it would not be deceived and was industriously engaged m hunting for humbug', bud over and above all seeming that surrounded and possessed me I would see and hear truth declaring, " I am yours and you are mine Ircm tho beginning ond for evor." The statement was without flaw, and I was unabie to discover anything but the truth, because there was nought else. I wen* off after having determined to go on with the class. I went to the class next day, book a lesson, and aftor the class, with all the others, waited my chance to 6peak to her. fcihs merely touohod my hand and passed on. Ivly heart: cried out, 'Come back, how can yoa V I was cold and hot, and a' greatrush seemed to till my hearing. I was frightened, and discovered that the voico of Right before had declared the truth, yet afraid to meet and claim ib, I determined to go away. I then thought it would bo moro honourable to tell her sister I was going. I told her all —" I loved," that I was going because I could nob interrupt so holy a saint in her duties, or interfere with her high mission. I remained away throe days, lost three lessons, tried hard to go to Europe, and finally roturned to find her calm and full oi trusb in my return. She coached rut till I was able to tako my' place it the class and I went through the course When I had finished I was comploteiy drow ned in her. " The companion face of th< beautiful truth I had beon taught," I toU her. Can I ever forget tho hour or the fsce o' that one ? It was a holy hour, an angol'i. face mado more beautiful that the meesay ,waH reciprocated. God alone can niessnrthe sublime joy of thac hour. I told he husband and the scene was full of patho. and jjrim humour. He said "he had uevei been ablo to reach her, for nearly eeven years they had lived as brother and sister, that he wanted time to think and aefc." 1 remained away for a few days. MeanChiie circumstances had seemed to fix a place iD the work for me had been accumulating a practico that was now interfering1 with his management of the office, I was to take that duty, and he was to confine himoelf to his patients, bub I imagined 1 saw a disposition on his part to fret, and determined to stay away. I went to Philadelphia, and was to remain away if tho future decided it best. I had been gone a week, wh6n Dr. Plunketd sent me a telegram asking me to meet him at Gerard House. I went ia. He came to me and said he had come to ask me to go to New York and take charge of the office. I was very particular to aak him if he was sure of the wish, and that he would nos regret or be sorry for his action. He insisted on bis wish and said everything waa arranged. I came back and am her 6 now, though sometimes I feel he feels regret. [Note we have seen the document! of which the above i 3 a copy and which are in Sister Magdala's possession]. MRS PLUNKETT'S UNION WITH WORTHIISGTON. .. '

There existed between myself and the Students of Truth every possible confidence immediately I decided that Wortuington was my mate, the one for whom my heart had been longing. I called together all my oßioe helpers and told thorn. I also cold them I should arrange to become his wife aa soon as I could see what could be dona concerning a divorce, for J believed that with his aid we two could accomplish a larger work in five yean than I could do alone in fifty. I told them that I did nob believe 1 could go through what 1 anticipated, without bringing on myself a great deal o censure from people because they would not be able to" Bee ray motive, but that I felt sure with the aid of such a great and good man as Mr Wortbington I would do 30 much good aa to finally win the unanimous approval of the world. During the few vresk3 that ensued, one after another left; us till but one remained, and that one the young lady who came tc Christchurch with me. I must be just to the Christian students of America, ft! they really are a very large and eminently respectable body of people. They disowaed me entirely and openly when I camean'«.Y ! witb Worthington. 1 suppose many of them knew that what I thought was "DIVINEST LOVE"

was only a refined form of animal attraction, aa there was no real cause for divorce. Plunkstt and I, after talking the matter over thoroughly, decided to divorce ourselves ai far as lay in our power, by draffing up an agreement to that effect, ttfld signing it. Wo did this in the month ol April, and immediately published it. } then went to my Chicago and Philadelphia associates and" told them what I h£d done, aud that we were to be married in as legal a manner a3 we could. •» remained away about four weeks, Pipll" kett and Worthington both remaining in my ofiico. Worthington was, as usual) very autocratic, and Plunket said to me on my return that it was nob pleasant, that M would speak himself, which he did at once. I deemed that Plunkett and I understood each other so thoroughly thab bad \>orthingtou treated him iike a gentleman instead of an interloper Plunketc would never have spoken an angry word, tor, though we were nob in the least husband and wife, we were comrades, and periectiy respected the rights and wishes oi eaeii other. You must all remember that oi» customs in Amorica, concerning marriage and divorce, are quite different irom you" here. We thon called together a group or my warm personal friends and uiado onr vows, which were witnessed in tn» presence. Our next business was to prepare a statement) to the public of what w« had done. He told me that he was a lawyer, that he had been living with his motnsi ; and sisters in San Francisco,,and tnauo ceutly his mother had died and alacl (W<!i w his sisters, both of whom he loved as bis <»'• life. He said in his deep sorrow he n*« broken up the house and stored away a \oi) lurgo amount of household goods in a sto c ] house which he owned there, ne »■■ talked about a very valuable lot of lana n owned there After a little I euggeßt.o thab he should send for his furniture, wu«ho said he would do soon, but it wasatweu

" TOO SACRED TO BE USED." I thought it was foolish to pay ronfc on furniture thousand* of miles away, and we he said he would telegraph to have the * sold and soods shipped Every Uttle^ I enouired if he had beard. He alwaj S aid, *" No. not yet, but I coon shall. v course he never did, becaußO it was bu fabrication. Very coon after our marriage, and before our statement for pnbliuw

was ready, tha press had heard, and of a:,'iir.!B reporter? soon mada their appearance. itfv told them tho exact truth about our jjjgrrissj&i hub declined to make any state-" B ent concerning it, as wo were preparing it for my magazine, which would be oub in ono week. However, American newspapers wars never known to wait a week for anytliiag, and especially was this so in onr cft je. Ab tha ond of a wesk every paper j.', tbo country had told it in every cwcsivablo light. I was brave through B H r.bis, bacanso I fait there was a mighty demand for higher legislation regarding the laws governing marriage and divorce, nod waa willing and glad so be an instrument through which so much interest was awakened. I could easily be brave, for had j ;) ot at; my sido the one grand, j

NOBLE, TRUE, STRONG MAN j n nil the world and could not we together ifia a world to any cause we represented. Jbus I thought, and was content, little dreading 'n © lßw Dr'ef days, I should find I had married cno who was ths direct opposite of all that I had believed him to t>e during the tivsst two weeks I saw him. Jig tadouged to show me two paper bills o! tea pounds each which he spent so lavishly thai) it was easy for ra« to believe ho had plenty ol" money, and when She time came jar him to enter my office I aureservedly liiindort ovor to him my bask accountand chequebook, and he made all chequoa for ray business afterwards. Jjater I found out that the two ten round note 3 had bean raised on hi* (salikin capo and diamond. 1 gave him money to recover them, he was very lavish with my money bub net dishonest. He did not try to use any save as he consulted me. Bki possessed some of the returned cheques, and now 1 hear that he showed thorn to Eevoral Students as proof that ke had money whon !«o joined. If those to whom he has shown them' will examine them, they will find they are made out for my refit, publisher, literature, etc. When Plunkett und I decided to separate we had jusir £400 in tho bdiik. I drew a cheque for £200 and gave it to him at this time. I had £600 of jr.y own invested in mortgage ou real estate at 7 per cent., with Sawyer and Co., Dcarton-stvset. Chicago, and £400 with the Castle Uorr.p&ny, Before leaving for London I lock up both these mortgages n&d put tha money into Worthineton's hands to deposit in hia name, which he did in the Columbia Bank of New York City. This was used in travelling expenses, living la London, and wo had

£100 ON ARRIVAL HESE

Siccc- that time I have received over £400 ia money, which are drafts mentioned in another place from Lorell and Stockham. All wore used by him. I also spent nearly another £200 tc bring Pearl with her cliaporonc from America to ChrisSscburch, and to return this lady to America. By tbia time newspapers wore all aflame with must remarkable headlines; and it took me but a short time to discover that I had only taken a very radical stop in a direction which I hoped would do good by calling attention to the faulty legislutiun concerning marriage and divorce. But I had joined my life and all its interests to one who had used and abused them in a manner almost unprecedented in the very laws I sought to purify. To say that I was crushed into the earth a thousand feet deep; to say that I felt as if the clutch of death were ao my heart), were but mild efforts at expression. I learned ihrough the press thnt he was not only the husband of many women, and father of several children, but that be had many jimes gained money by false pretences.

A PRIVATE DETECTIVE $f Bo3ton, was awaiting letters, making ■Inquiries, trying to identify Wortnington as tho man "Major Wood," on whose trail he had been for several years. All this was »io annoying and distracting to me that at my request Worthington went to Montreal, and I sent the following to the press of Nsv; York:—"l ask that everybody who has cause against Worthington to present it to me at once, and I will arrange by aid of truth to cancel every obligation. In the near future I know God wi'l help me to d« this. Particularly do I wish Lira Ward (the woman ho had left only a few weeks before coming to me) to communicate with me, or allow me to receive her.— Mary Bektley Worthington." I rrent and spent two days with him while he was in ilontreal, and hia grief and repentance ieorand so real to me that I would have forgiven him ten timea .more than I did. I really thoroughly "believed in the conversion of the man, and was willing to stand side by side with kirn •hrough whatever might come. Immediately his creditors began to write. I have 3o copies of my letters to them, but below I give theirs to me. The following are specimens :—

LETTERS FROM CREDITORS,

"Charleston West;., V.A., August 30th, 1889, Mrs Worthington,—Mr Worthington had three thousand three hundred dollars in cash of Mr Dana, and he spent four hundred more in trying to fiud him. I ihink, and almost know, that if he were flffared fifteen hundred dollars he would ialteib, and give a clear receipt. You see, with principal and interest ho is over four ibonsand dollars oct of pocket. He thinks ]i Mr Worbnington wi>.3 in earnest he would we replied to his letter. I ara trying my tat to convince him that it will all come right, if he will give him a chance.—Yours respectfully, M. A. Dana."

"SpokaneFall?, W.T.,AuKuetl2th,lßß9. Mtt Piuakatt Worthington, New York: Dear Madame,—Reading in 'The World' the account of the conversion by you of A. »■ Wordsworth Worthington, and thinking ne would like to commence doing good by * littla act of kindness, I will aak you tc «w« him pay an account that he owes Mrs MeCox and Miss Miller for lot sold to them, °n which thoy could get no deed, as he had previously sold tho same property to other parties. Wo hold his receipt for monoy ?™, which was 613 dollars, which, with "itereefe at 10 par cent, since ho got tho tooncy, makeo it- now 74;" dollars SI cents. *!'« amount he justly owes. A3 we will re•tirii the receipt when the money is paid, 'am needing my part very bad, aa I am one *f tae auGerera in the late disastrous tire in ; «s city. By paying this debt he will bo cancelling

~ ONE OP HIS SINS wafc ha perpetrated while here.—Very re'Poctfully, Alus M. J. McCos." lfiOQ ' Lti"™ Springs, August 12th, S* Bear Madnin, —Your favour of the «o is at hand, and in reply I will say that Major Wood, then citizen of ■nien, Georgia, proposed to gel up a national Bank at, tho point, Ho called on TO, people, and he subscribed to its Wm stock aorao 5,000 dollars. I was to 2fiS cS"f n' M'deu'> "f t'lo Bank. I paid in •■■■W dollars to him, and bo converted the urn to his own u.-ie and left for other parts, p^lso procured 2,000 dollars from D. D. ?(ler for the same purpose, ana sent a JvP" to m e W i t (, t i. Q re q nes t that I should g™-M president. I did so, and had '^Pty that also, so I am out in good honest bi f? y to the amount of 4,000 dollars on -accouDt. Ko one else got indictment J?.'*Bl tlie Major oxcepb me. Now if you ' «and this letter to Major Wood ho will .J JOG I have told the truth. You say he tZ ""O'ffled and wishes to lead a L . I" 0' If bo you are right, as t 0 ltlei>d and companion, in desiring iou a 'totitution as far as you can. B*y he told you I was a Christian. ;„ p™> and so will always meet anyone f .'Wmstian spirit. I will receipt him in r J. • r !»y 4,000 dollar debt, and recall tho dolh lon PaPers if ho will pay mo 2,000 foni >anJ Pay Mr Sampson, of Boston, tin, I t 1 roubl(; iv &c matter. Tina offer I iC • a ecinrl si;>iri(i- NoW) if hP re" ioiio»t- payme 'l tl)ink ib is my dHtyto uw mm as long ac he and 1 live.

! I SHALL CAPTURE HIM, I and have him returned bo Georgia. I say i thai in no bad spirit. I have nothing in imy heart against any man. but jusbice to I myself requires that- 1 rscover this money. I 1 hod so much to bear, so many taunts, : that it is due I should be paid back, I befrianded Major Woods', as he will tell you, and was kind and neighbourly, and was sick, very sick, whnn I trusted him to aid him. Toll him 1 ara new well. I am, dear iiadanso. with respect, yours truly, W. E. 11. Searcy. P.S.—Send me here copy of your magazine, and mark some of the articles written by Major Wood." " BufMlo, Leith Springs, August 18, 1839. My dear Madame,—l have read yours of August 16th with much interest, and hasten to reply that I will be pleased re have letter from Worthington direct, which can be sent through you without rej vsajin£ his whereabouts. You hove doubtI lass sent him my letter, and he bow knows I fully as to the affair at Criffen, as far as it affects, and I vow thab 1 had to pay Feeder and bear all the taunts of the press and people at nsy losses. The truth is tha Major made me fee! he was my -riend, and I started out to befriend and aid hisa. I was sick, as he will remember, at cho tiiaa. Still I trusted him, and there are many at Griffen who would be safer for his return. I fear it would be hard to restrain thorn from vioience if he should be brought back. Now you seek my advice ac to what should be dono, and ask, airing other things, if you should expend your all to \

SAVE HIM FUOM PRISON

I think you should keep your money for yourself and children, That is my honest advice, and I Bay to you, candidly, 1 would hate to take your money to pay his debt. I ;ua, dear Madame, yours truly, W. H. E, SkAry.'

"North Western Hospital, Minniopolia, August? 11th, 1889. To ivlpry Bontley VVorthingtoQ : Madame, —I have just been reading your statement in ' The World of laeb Sunday, on wkich you express sympathy thab reflects great credit on you under the circumstances. The young woman, Mrs Ward, is ab preßenb hi my care in this hospital. I saw hor yesterday, but bofore I saw the article in ' Th? World,' She was sect to our hospital by the pood ladies of Grand Forks, and left in our charitable aid. She h utterly destitute, a<id soon to bo a mother.—Very truly yours, Harriet G. Walker, Matron of ' North Western Hospital for Wemen, Minniopolis.' "Mr* Mary Bently Worthington : Dear Madams,—Since I wrote you first 1 have learned that strangely enough the lines of my lire have touched this strange man before. Many years ago in the n^me 'of Walton' he married at Xenia, Ohio, Miss B. B. Thoin. Hs loft after FORGING HER FATHER'S NAME for many thousands of dollars just on the eve of her confinement, They had lived together aome sixteen months. Tho loss of property bankrupted her father, and tho disgrace sent hiai to an early grave. The baba is now a beautiful yoiiiisj girl who ie gifted beyond her yoars. BB.is my husband's cousin and my dear friend. What insanity can have possessed this man all those years ? Has he no conscience or heart? I beg your pardon, I did not intend to go into this. —Very truly yoiira, Hakkiet G. Walkek, Matron Northwestern Hospital." " North-western Hospital, 2,627, Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, iiinn., August 15th, ISB9. Dear Madam,—At the time I wrote Mrs C.P.P. I did not know the truth about my mother's money. I knew Ward had some of her money to invest in the Grand Forks Building Association, but never knew how much until I heard from her. After ho left Grand Forks 1 made inquiries, and found he kad invested 125 dollars in her name. When I heard from my mother I found that instead of 125 dollars it was 1,259 dollars, and that the papers he had given faer were all forgeries. He had even taken 58 dollars out of 125 dollars, and had received enough more from her to make up the sum of 1,450 dollars. I saw in one of the papers that Wortbingion denied knowing my condition when ho lefc me. It is rather strong language to use perhaps, but when he told you so he told a aornright Ho. He knew come time beforo he went away, and that very night he spoke about it, and pretended to be so glad and ail tbat sorb of thing. He ia

AN OUT- AND OUT VILLAIN,

and no one need try to make a aainfc of him. My baby was born the night before last. It is a girl; and that isn't all. I had a little boy by him a year ago last month. He died the following September, yet you say, " If you are tho wife of Wood." 1 was not only his wife, bub the mother of his two children. That I can always prove by my marriage lines. You say there are ho many stories afloat about him. I did not believe any of them until I had positive proof of what he is. I have heard from so many (both directly and through friends) who havo suffered at his haucts that 1 could not de otherwise than believe tho worst they can say about him is uo worse than he is. —Yours respectfully, Mrs E. M. Ward."

I have Been the original of the above letters, and of others corroborating thorn, and their envelopes bearing American stamp and postmarks. I have always expected and intended to cancel all obligations, and we have talked about it togothor hundreds of tinier I suppose, and always ended up by saying, " Surely we will have money same time to pay it all." On the one hiiiid was my magazine with its thousands of subscribers scorning to demand my prosefico in New York, and on the other my husband, 'a converted mnn,' pursuod by oiEcers of law. 16 did not tako me long to decide to fly to some far-away country and there give him an opportunity to begin lite anew. Accordingly Worthington and Paul sailed from Is'ew York on September 7th, 1889, for London by the Sorvia. I remained to settle up my affairs and dispose of my magazine. I found i could nob sell it without! -great loss to myself. I therefore engaged an editor, and deposited 1,000 dollars with my publisher, to pay expenses', and sailed myself accompanied by Miss Oxford, my much-loved and loyal companion, for London, on September 345b, 1889, by the Etrnria. Later I transfaired my magazine to Misa A. A. Clievallier aad John W. Lovell, of New York city. Itf name was " International Magazine of Truth." Upon our arrival at Liverpool we Tfcro met by Worthington and Paul and taken to London into a beautifully "readyfurnished " four-storied

HOUSE IN REGENT PARK. I confess that my heart rather failed me when I saw all this elegance, and realised hew rapidly my fund? wore being exhausted. We looked the ground ovor, and dfloided taere was little chance of doing anything in London without credentials. VVa decided to leave for Australia, on November I7fch, 1889, and sailed for Melbourne in the Rimutaka. It was during tho trip that wo changed our minds, ftud decided to come to New Zealand. Wo arrived here January 16th, 1890, and wenfc immediately to Warner's Hotel, hating only about £100 of my money lofw On tho day following we looked lor a house, and nexb day engaged a house in Office Koad, where with assistance of packing case?, some pieces of cretonne, and a very little furniture we begon housekeeping on a very small scalo. On' March 4th Mr Worthington gave his first lecture in the Oddfellows' Hall on " Historical Religions and Their Ultimate." This was followed by another lecture on "Christianity and Mahommedanism." From these two lectures came the first class of about thirty persona to receive 'he Srst course of the now wellknown " Worthington lectures," at a house inOfficeßoad. Everybody is familar with the

rapid rise and growth of the work of the Students of Truth" 3inee that time. I now feel thar, he requires a totally different dealing than he has hitherto received at my hands. Whiie I was with kirn and my watchful mind was over every department of work, he was so different from what he has been during these twelve weeks, or since be broke from my immediate influence, that I am sure that a failure ob my part to let the facts D 3 made known to this community would amount to my playing the part of an abettor. Hs now haa a greater opportunity to

PRACTICE HIS WILES

Thais has been afforded him before in Christchurch, as he is backed by a following who do not know him or what he is, but only for what he appears to be. They are made tiraid by fear of losing she money they have invested,, and by the brazen way hs dictates to them whenever they dare to give a mild hint that they would like to knew a little more about what should be their own affairs. Last Thursday svoning he positively refused a large meet-i-jg of students tkerightorUberfcyto question hiua concernitig Iheir own ntfairs at tha meeting, and eaid if they wanted to know any informatics- fchey roust call on him personally or in little knots. WHAT MISERABLE SUBTERFUGE. At this samo meeting ho announced his determination to act in any way thats he said would give him a proper standing before the bar of his own country. What arrant nonsense in the face of the fact that he ha? rarely kept an alias longer than two years at a time, and that Worthington is the name assumed not over four weeks i before coming to cue. The whole claim is a humbug fr 'ro beg'.nninp to end. One can Bcr.rcr.y wonder at the consternation .inaong Mie Students. It is a greater wonder, they have Dot all gone mad in tho confusion. One thing i can lay for them is that they have loyally tried to keep that awfal door of th« past p'oeed as he co so'amnly pledged them to do three years ago. Buil it i3of no use for them to any longer try, tor he is stronger in big human will than all of them put together. By his own action, and with his own hrinde he had forced tho door wide open and through, and out of ib ejected the eighth woman he has called wife with her children and retained all their money. He knew absolutely that they had not one friend in the world when ho sent them away. He is too cowardly to own that tho sent them away and trkd to hide behind she trustees. This he will novor be able to do, as the majority of them are mere figureheads, as has already been shown. They knew almost nothing of the whole affair until aitor tiie ejection took place, I would liko to aak all those who know him to try to imagine for a moment those trustees trying to do anything against his will. They were appointed by him, and never by the students. They are under his absolute control, and should one of them behave ia tho least contrary to his nigh and mighty will that ono would bo immediately ousted and some more plastic instrument appointed in his place. Thus it will be seen that the whole body known as "The Students *f Truth," with all property represented by the Temple and surroundings, are entirely arid unqualifiedly under tho dictation of thia one man, who at present ia wholly dominated by

VANITY, PRIDE, AND AMBITION.

In Divine providence I and my money were used as instruments to launch Worthington and the Temple of Truth upon the City of Christchurch. He has seemed to be a better man every succeeding month until 12 weeks ago when a great temptation to try to be all in all came to him. He yielded, and since then has been enacting the old sceno of falsehood, misrepresentation and dishonesty, which were hia habits for many long years. The students as a body havo sun'ered deeply with me in tbis hour of affliction, and, like me, they are both to lay down their idol; but they will bo obliged to do so, for though he preaches every truth of God aud almost

LIKE AN ANGEL,

many think he is'at present [enacting the part of a wolf in sheep's clothing, and that he needs to be unmasked before he attempts to go further, 1 may add that I have not the slightest sympathy with that quality of thought I so often meet, especially with incorrigibles who say, "Oh, let's get rid of them somehow. Pay their fare and get them out of the city." This is not true or right if one ia in our midsb who is chained by disease, no matter whether it be named typhoid fever, drunkenness, ill-temper, sensuousness, or wickedness in general. It is a diseased condition all the same, and demands our patient, loving ministrations. If Worthington be an infliction, let him remain amongst us who lovo him, and would serve him with our all. Then when hi 3 illness is past we will rejoice together, for whereas he now is blind he then will see. I shall never leavo this city nor work until the Temple of Truth has bean cleansed and all the money changers driven out. Truth brought me horo, and so long as I remain ib will be my perfect defence after the cleansing is accomplished. It is my intention to travol and lecture, and establish in other cities the teaching of the Students of Truth, after which I will give ray special attention to teaching of the Order of tho Temple. In that connection I would like to say that I shall not again form any outward organisation to ba governed by stated rules. Persons desiring to belong to us can do so after they havo already docidod to live a life of chastity and contutence by simply sending us word to that effect, /i'liey can oven tako a brother's or sister's name if they like to do so, and if any Bister should desire to wear the gown, I will bemostglad to send her the sirapie pattern. A committee of Bludents who arc, and have always been moot loyal to the teaching waited upon me two days iigo asking my advice as their teacher. I paid then what I would'say to all others had I opportunity, if you are afraid of losing your monoy; if you lean upon it you will lose it. If you are true to what I you know to bo right thus your money is safe. I

WORTHINGTON IS OUR FEIEx\ TD AND BROTHER

who has been sadly overtaken in fault, aad it is our combined duty to do all we can to restore this brother. But it can never be done by feeding his vanity. What he needs is more_repentance, and less regret; more practice1 and less preaching; more humility and lesa pride, more spiritually find less intellect. In fact he needs a new heart, ana I sincerely believe that through this seven timea heatod furnaco ho will come forth purged of hia assumed position and namo, and find himself a brother only in truth. I will be the first (;o tako his hand if he will allow mo, when I am convinced that he baa consnnted to unmask. Until then, I beliove there is no kindness wo can do him so greafc^ aa to refui-.o him ana teacher. You may remove foot, or hand, or even a limb, and perhaps both iimbS; aud he may still live, but if you tako way his hoart ho will die. My relation to this work is that of a heart, and it will die without mo. Truth is safe forever, but work as a work will go down. I surest, therefore, that I bo given my rightful place, and at onco, on the platform of the Temple. If this is not done within two weeks, I shall take the Oddfellow's Hall, and carry steadily forward the work in which I have been ongaged for tho pash throe years. Meantimo I havo only love towards all mankind. (Signed) Sister Magdala." Thus tar Magclala. It is hoped, but hardly expected, that the publication of this candid revelation will sause Worthiagfccn to leave the city.