THE PLAIN TRUTH.

Evening Star, Issue 9154, 8 June 1893, Page 1

THE PLAIN TRUTH.

Mrs Worthlagton has confessed to a representative of ' Truth' that she is the Mary Pluakett referred to in the article in the ' New York Herald,' which we republished last Tuesday She also tacitly admitted, and A. Bentley Worthington has by his silence tacitly admitted, that he is the adventurer and criminal referred to by the ' New York Herald,' and who is known in America by many aliases and as a bigamist of, the deepest dye But more even than this has transpired. We have the statement of Mrs Worthington, corroborated to the fullest extent by the written confession of four of the chief officials of this precious "Temple of Truth,"' to the effect that the man Worthington, after decoying this woman from her lawful husband, after using her money, her brains, ber energy, and zeal—however misdirected that zeal may have been—now desires to shunt her from the whole affair, to deprive her of her children, to turn her adrift upon the world, and to make a pitiful monetary allowance t<> her dependent upon her speaking no won! against the holy person of Pope A. B. Worthington. A pretty Pope, indeed, this bigamist and corrupter of other men's wives..! How any four self-respecting Englishmen could hare affixed their names to the document we were asked by Worthington to publish, and published on Saturday, we do not profess to understand. We have been asked to stay our hand because this Worthington was said to be a repentant sinner. Where, how, and when has he shown his\ repentance ? By casting off a "woman who, whatever her faults and failings may have been, has been faithful and devoted to this pitiful, whining, canting adventurer and rascal * Had he one spark of manhood in his composition he would have stood heart to heart with this woman against the world. But no, in the " Temple of Truth," whose High Priest is an adulterer and bigamist, there , must be no divided authority. Pope "A. Bentley Worthington, or whatever the impostor's real name may be, must reign supreme. We wish the trustees and the congregation joy of their prophet. But we want to know whether the people of Christehurch who have not been beguiled by this fellow's airs, attitudes, graces, and hypnotic passes, are longer going to tamely submit to the disgraceful public scandal of such a man, who mocks at our social laws, posing as a teacher- of ethics in this city. ' Truth ' has spoken. It is time the citizens of Christehurch spoke, and with no uncertain sound.—Christehurch ' Truth.'

The split in tin camp of the Worthiiigtou Temple of Truth affair was caused by Mrs Worthiugton (or Plunkett) preaching a peculiar doctrine on sexology during the absence of the precious saint in Auckland. She preached a doctrine of celibacy for all perefect continence for married as well us unmarried people—and proceeded to establish an order on this basis. Worthington disapproved of this. She defied him, and a rupture took place. . SOME FACTS. The editor of the ' Star' deputed one of his Btaff to ascertain the facts in connection with the affair, and from the reporter's statement we glean the following:—That Mrs Worthington has been the mainspring in the establishment of the Temple of Truth] that the erection of the Temple was iu a small degree defrayed by voluntary contributions, but mainly by money raised on debentures supposed to be redeemable on demand ; that in order to take up debentures Students in many cases mortgaged and sacrificed 1 their homes and properties and rendered themselves penniless; that it is about four years since VVorthiugtou went through the form of marriage with Mrs Plunkett, and that from very eoon afterwards her life has been one of misery with him ; that they have lived on her money all the time, and that now when it is exhausted he is forcing her to leave him ; tiiat for several months past lie has cleverly been working up to this ]x>int; that his dislike for her lias been openly shown; that at a prayer meeting in tin; Temple last week, while she was conducting prayer, he snatched the Bible out of her hands, and in a violent, angry voice told her "there must be an end of this." The reporter interviewed Mrs VVorthiugtou, and asked if she was at liberty to speak of Worthington's affairs and life. To thisshe answered : "My lips are sealed as to him. I have pledged myself to tell nothing about him."' Then she said shewas not leaving Christchurch voluntarily, and proceeded to explain that on her resignation the trustees, who seem not to have entertained any thought of there being any wrong in the parting of man and wife, if the formality called marriage gone through by the couple confers such a union, had sent a message asking her if she was going away, and, if she would like to leave the children in Christ - church. "The trustees also asked what provision they should make for me financially,' 7 sic said, and if I would "promise; not to speak about Mr Worthington."' To these inquiries she replied : " I am willuig that the children should remain here and be treated and educated according to the usual routine, provided J can visit them as often as I choose and direct* concerning them as at present. Should this proposition be accepted, I would like to resume my private apartments here, to be used by uie only at such times as I should visit the children, I to pay for my rooms when absent and for my board when present at a price we may agree upon hereafter. 1. should also require to refer to my books and magazines now in the library of Mr Worthington's study as freely as ever. Should the above be accepted, I should require the smallest provision money-wise possible that would permit me to pay for my apartments horewhen absent, my board when present, and travel to other cities that 1 think it wise to visit, until I could by collections made in those «ties pay all expenses without assistance from here." She then proceeded to lay down conditions under which she would establish temples in other parts of the colony. The propositions were submitted to a committee of four—two chosen by each party. One of the Committee at Mrs Worthington's request waited upon Mr Worthington and asked him if he would allow her to visit the children, and the answer he received from Worthington was "Certainly not." The children are not Worthington's, but Mrs Worthington was willing to leave them with him because their presence would be a "great blessing to him." Asked what further proposals she made, Mrs Worthington replied that she submitted the following :—" I will take my children and books, and the money, in advance, which *I have put into the work of the Students of Truth, Chrifltchurch, and leave the city, and locate in Wellington or some other city in New Zealand and build an independent work there. 1 will then try to forget and forgive the cruel usurpation of all my rights, as 1 hope to be forgiven." The only reply elicitwl to this was that the trustees could not consider raising any such sum of money, and that it was an utter impossibility at present. Then Mrs Worthington submitted this :—" If you will not allow me to remain here, or give me the money I have put into this work to go away, then I see no way bat for me to take a hall down town, lecture, and in that way earn enough to take care of myself ami children. I shall certainly be safer among people with whom I have labored for three years than among strangers," and this offer met with no better fate. " The representative of the trustees,"

.iaid Mrs Worthingtou. "said that he Was sure the proposition would not lie entertained by .Mr Worthington's representatives. He and' I talked over the matter for, I ■Mould say, about three hours, till I despaired nf rinding- a plane on earth to rest my foot, for it seemed that every proposal I made was destined to be rejected. At this moment a statement I had many times made t«> inv Kt'identseanie to my rescue. That is

• I'enunciation is possession." I took my pen and wrote : 'To my patient brothers,— { renounce all choice, all desires, all rights, all properties, all places, all peoples, all names, and remain simply and always \lagdala ; mi do with me as you will. " After dcliL.iV.ing over this tor two hours and a-half th.- Committee gave a decision, the si-.hstain c. of which Mrs Worthington stated to be to litis eifect :—" That I must leave New Zealand for one year; that I must not use the name of Worthingtou ; that I was to leave the children in Christchurch for one year, after which they were to be at liberty to choose whether they were to remain with -Mr Worthingtou or go to me ; that I was to receive £3O when I left Chrisiclmreh, and £lO a month for the twelve months; and that I must promise not to speak of Mr Worthingtou disrespectfully, under penally of forfeiting tho allowance made to me." In reply to questions, Mrs Worthington said site would have liked to have remained in Christchureh, but that she was being forced away. What compulsion was used towards you '.'

1 was several times warned by one ot my lepreseutatives on the Committee that unless I made some proposition to which Mr Worthington's representatives would agree I should be thrown right out without anything. Have von auv monev '.' ■- Xo.

At the close of the interview, Mrs Wor'iiington said: "No words can expres the pain it. gives me to let this go to the public, but 1 feel that, under tho circumstances, your questions deserve -tr light forward answers, and it is the onlv method remaining to me of letting iho'se with whom I have labored know my

-i; nation and how surely I love them and wmild remain with them if possible. 1 hue no right or wish to be severe with ;.nvoiii', for there have been too many errors in my past for me to feel other than great charity towards all who err." To all this Worthingtou gave no word of explanation, bin sheltered himself under tire wing of t lie Trustees.

After rending the foregoing, can anyone wonder that the correspondent who tirst ln'iiiiglit the inatterunder publicnotice should . rv :—•"Surely [)til)lic o[iiniou inChristchureh and the colony must shame this double-dyed villain. Surely there are men among the Student sof Truth who will not allow this disgrace to rest on their shoulders. Surely there are ■_jood women in that congregation who, when they know the tru tli --for it has been cunningly i oncealed as much as possible —will refuse to r-tand by and see this cruel wrong inllieted on one of their own sex." Rut. instead, the Students rally rou in It heir so-called " teacher. 'l'he -Lytfelton Times' says that there was wry little falling oh" in the attendances last Sunday, ami the collections were ne.irlv L'l7. ■' \n defections from the ranks of the Students were perceptible." "Xo reference in tl lc situation w;is made at the morning >ervice," and upon t!ie seventh verse of the fourteenth chapter of Romans the hypo- • ■ritieul wife deserter and cruel destroyer of tiie happiness of helpless females based ''an eloquent andimpressiveexposition of the doct rineof the brotherhood of man." '" Xothing nlitruded upon the devotional character i>f the service." In the evening the Temple was densely packed, and the doors were closed some time before the hour for beginning the service. The audience was most tttentive, and "the 'teacher' conducted the service with complete imperturbability. ' Outside all was not, however, so peaceful. Tin' situation was freely discussed, anil cries such as " Bring out the brute !" " Where is he'.'" and "Pie's not game to show hini-

-elf !'" were indulged in. At one time it appeared as if there was to be a hostile demonstration of a very unpleasant kind, end police aid wits requisite ued, lull it was not required. The children, like Mrs Wor:.hington, have formally renounced the n.'.me "f Woi'thington.