CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 7

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS

MRS EDDY DECLARED TO BE SANE.

HER SON SATISFIED.

Press' Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, September 3. The .Masters in Lunacy have found Mrs Eddy sane. Her estate, which is valued at £200,000, is in the hands of trustees, Mrs Eddy's eon'declares the trusteeship to be satisfactory, '

Last-, year,, it .will ,be remembered, a sensational article appeared in the New York "World stating that Mrs Eddy ivas dying from cancer, that sho was immured at her 'homo near Concord, New Hampshire, and that she-was impersonated in her daily drives by another lady. It was also Stated that "legal action to ascertain tho full truth is practically assured." This was the first public intimation that, steps woro to be taken through the law courts to solvo what was alleged to be some mystery about Mrs Kddy. .Affidavits wore aiado by the Mayor of Concord and other gentlemenfc there and m Boston—some of them not Christian' Scientists—tos —to tho effect that they knew Mm Eddy well, arid that tho statements of the. New York World woro false, Soon afterwards, with tho object, ??. ,™ a 8 alleged, of "protecting" "Mrs Lddys person and property, tho equity suit was begun by. those who, in legalphraseology, ' were called tho "next friends" of Mrs Eddy. These wore: Georgo W.-Glover, her son; Mary' Baker Glorer, her _ granddaughter; and George W. Baker, For nephew. They alleged that Mis Eddy was mentally incapable of-man-aging her affairs; tliafc there was a combination to acchido her; and that her property was being misappropriated. The suit, which was bogun without Mrs Eddy's 'knowledge or consent, was brought, by those next friends " against 10 gentlemen—including Mr Calvin Frye, who ha 6 been Mrs ■kddy s privato secretary and accountant for 25'years,-fall of them active Christian bdentists in Boston and Concord, and next to Mrs Eddy the leaders in the Christian Scienco movement. Each of these defendants mado an affidavit in which ho cate•gorically denied every allegation in tho next > friends'^' bill of charges. It was further stated in the course of tho suit that tho real plaintiffs woro not Mis Eddy's son and granddaughter and nephew, but other persons who had for years been.iost.de to Mm Eddy, charging hor with being a fraud and a. charlatan on account of her religious views, Mr William Chandler, tho cx-Senator, and formerly Secretary of the Navy, who was acting as special counsel an tho case, declared that Mr Glover was not actuated oy Any spirit of disrespect to his inothor, but believed that • the proceedings. were in hor interest. The action was not directed against religion.' Mr • Glover had long believed that his mother was growing too feeble in bodv and mind to attend to her business, but .he was unablo to confirm nis suspicion • because those immediately about her seemed unwilling to grant even to her nearest relatives an interview of sufficient length <to reveal her actual* condition. Early 111 January, however, Mr Glover talked to his mother for threequarters of an hour, as the result of which no decided that it was his imperative duty to bring an action which had been too long neglected. She was weak bodily, her mind was beclouded and enfeebled and she was_ possessed by strango and irrational notions. It, was clear to lier relatives that if shewas not insane, her mental faculties were so far impaired that she could not attend to hor financial affairs nor give intelligent . directions regarding !}"y ousmess of importance. Mr Streator Mrs Eddy's personal counsel, declared that her capacity to manage business and other u-ml 5 ' " ot tm ° sl; ' o ned, addinsr. VVhen tho tilings she has 'done on behalf of her son and grandchildren are known they and their counsel could not fail deeply to regret the present action and the publicity given to at." The suit against the Christian Scientist trustees was withdrawn last month owing to an agreement, having been arrived at out of conrt.

Mrs Eddy was recently interviewed in, accordance with the decision of t.lio courts by three masters in lunacy. She talked volubly to the three gentlemen on the subjects of allopathy,, homcepathy, and mesmerism.