"STUDENTS OF TRUTH"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6691, 5 June 1893, Page 2

" STUDENTS OF TRUTH"

+ A CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION. WORTHINGTON EXPOSED AT LAST. A VILLAINOUS HUMBUG. Ciiristchcrch, to-day, A considerable Tamount of sensation has been caused here during the last few day s by the conflict betwoen'Mr Worthington, founder of Ihe religious sect known as " Students of Truth," and kis alleged wife as to the leadership of the sect. On Friday night a letter appeared in the Star directly charging Worthingfcon with having deceived, swindled, and deserted seven women in various parfca of America, with having lived on his present wife's money since they went through the form of marriage about four years ago, and now that the money is exhausted with forcing her to leave him and compelling her to relinquish all part in the work of the Temple, in which she lias been a fellow teacher with Worthing ion. On Saturday night both evening papers published interviews with Mrs Worthington, in which she affirmed tho truth of the charges made by the correspondent of the Star. Worthington declined to be interviewed, but placed himself in the hands of the trustees of the temple who supplied a written statement to the effect that a conflict of authority had arisen ; that Mrs Worthington claimed to be the head of the order and the sole judge of what she should teach, and that she had founded the organisation which had created a great deal of unpleasantness among the students, as the peculiar doctrines taught by her had nothing whatever to do with the teaching ot Students of Truth. Eventually Mrs Worthington abandoned her claim to bo the solo head of the work, and retired from all active association with the sect in Christchurch. Worthington has been practicing on the Christchurch folk one of the most remarkable frauds of modern times. He arrived there three and a-half yeara ago with no capital but a glib tongue and an attractive looking woman whom he passed off as his wife. There the pair started some new faugled religion, and soon attracted round them a flock of that class of p?ople who are ever ready to take up anything new rather than believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Worthington straightway commenced antiChrist teachings, quoting largely from the Bible, and asserting that Jesus Chrisb was n. mere man with a certain power of divinity which every human being possessed in a greater or less degree. Everyone was divine and it was only a matter of cultivating and using that divinity. Mr and Mrs Worthington, of course, were divine and were able to perform many little miracles, which set the tongues of their admirers going and soou crowds were attracted to these new religionists. The stories of how people have been gulled by this couple are almost incredulous, but it was not long before Worthington succeeded in getting his " students," as he called them, to plank down the coin and sign guarantee bonds to build a Temple, which in due time was erected and is one of the most handsome buildings in tho city. Its interior was sumptuously decorated and furnished, and to add to the attractiveness of the religion Mr Worthington introduced a distinctive costume for his people. The ladies were arrayed in loose flowing gowns of purple and the men in equally startling dress. The uniform was not only worn in the Temple, bub soon it was quite common in the streets of Christchurch. Love of pleasure was the basis of the new teaching, and everything was done in the services to make the people, enjoy themselves. There was fine music, rivalling that of the Cathedral, gorgeous ceramonies, and above all the charming talk of Mr Worthington, whose eloquence carried away many people who trusted in their own in telligencas, and allowed their " wisdom" to be appealed, to before their consciences, " Anti-

Christ " flourished and so great waa the hold Worthington secured upon tho c»mmunity that the newspapers seemed frightened to expose him though a full account of his wicked misdeeds appeared in the Melbourne Argus and Australasian. This gave a dark career of tho humbug, but the Christohurch papers did not even notice it though appealed to to do so. Still the "Temple" prospered, ancl Worthington got his kind iriends to build him a mansion, costing several thousand pounds. This was sumptuously furnished, and Mr and "Mrs" W. lived iv great style. A social hall was also built for the purpose of instituting popular entertainments to bring the young people who roam about the streets at night together, and to give them good rational amusement. The doctriues taught by the Worthingtons were not of the purest morality. They published some pamphlets upon sexual matters, which prurient reading scattered broadcast, had a bad effect upon young minds. The mothers of Christohurch thought it time to interpose, and interviewed Worthington at his palace. They requested him to leave the town, as he was ruining the morals of their boys and girls. He said ho would not go until he was carried out. They offered to perform that office for him, but he laughed at them, and then the good ladies retired bested, and held an indignation meeting in the street. In many homes great sorrow has been wrought because of the immoral teachings of this immoral couple. Homes have been broken up, husbands having left wives, and wives husbands, in obedience to Worthington's teaching that each person is his own divinity, and had free license to mate with any other divinity who had an inclination that wa}'. Sad tales of misery caused by violence of God's seventh commandment are told. Last week the new evening paper "Truth," published at the Press office, gave an exposure of the Worthingtons, republishing from the New York Herald a long article about the couple. This has evidently been followed by a quarrel between the man and his paramour, and now the Temple of Truth seems to be shaken at its foundations. The following is the article from the New York Herald of April 19th last, and republished by Truth : — ■ (By Teiegraph to " New York Herald.") " St. Louis, Mo., April 18, 1893.— 1t will, no doubt, be of great interest to the followers of the Christian science faith throughout the country to know that A. Bentley Worthington, or Samuel Oakley Crawford, who was formerly one of the disciples of that creed, has turned up at last. He has iound a new field for adventure and gain, and is now in New Zealand at a lii tie town known as Christcurch. A. Bentley Worthington was exposed in New York and other cities in 1889 as being a bigamist eight times over, and also as ono of the smoothest and most suave rascals the police of this country ever had to deal with. It was after these exposures Worthington or Crawford mysteriously disappeared, leaving no clue by which he could be traced to his new pastures. In his new location he has established one of the largest swindling institutions under the garb of religion ever known. Mr Worthington is not alone in New Zealand, but has a partner, Mrs Mary Plunkett, once editress of the International Magazine of Christian Science, of New York, and the ex-wife of J. J. Plunkett, who was formerly one of the leading Christian Science prophets in Gotham. She is now known as Mary Bentley Worthington, having discarded the " Plunkett " annex altogether. " STCDBN'TS OF TRUTH." This well-matched pair made their appearance in Christchurch, and went about the arduous duties of establishing a religion the like of which had never been seen or heard of before. The new sect is called " Students of Truth." Worthington and the woman worked hard, und have succeeded in victimising hundreds of the simple folk of Christchurch. With funds received by playing upon the credulity of those trusting people, the firm of Worthington and Plunkett has succeeded in erecting a building of worship for the "Students of Truth," miscalled the "Temple of Truth," at a cost of more than £6000, or 30,000 dollars, and also a hall called the " Social Hall,*' and a residence for "Brother Worthington and dear Sister Worthington." The latter two buildings are veritable palaces, costing also £6,000. Altogether the religious firm has succeeded in erecting 60 000 dollars worth of buildings out of the profits of the new religion. If this appropriating of the funds of the

community had been all the clerical wolf had done his crime would not be so great. But in addition to this the community is torn by internal dissensions and strife. Marriage vows under his teachings havo lost their divine sacredness, and wives are leaving husbands and husbands deserting wives. The following letter was received here to-day : — *■ Christchurch, New Zealand, No. 26, Durham Street, March 21st, 1893. There are two individuals here named A. Bentley Worthington and Mary Bentley Worthington who are operating a gigantic swindle under the cloak of religion. They came here in January I S9O. ln a newspaper of July, ISS9, there is an article about two persons of the same name. These people were Christian Scientists in New York. They have managed to get very large subscriptions from the public of this city to erect three large structures at a cost of £12,000. These structures consist of a Temple of Truth, a social hall, and a residence. Many people have handed over their savings for years, mortgaged their little cottages, etc., to give them mouey. If you would see your way clear to supply. me with information relative to these two persons you will confer a lasting benefit ou the peopic of this city. I enclose a photo and description of the man. The photo is the best I can get. He will not sit to have his portrait taken. It appears he married eight different women, and is now living with a Mrs Plunkett, who was formerly editor of the International Magazine of Christian Science, in Now York. Husbands and wives are being parted, homes are breaking up, and many lives are being ruined by this man's teaching. I also enclose a letter to Mrs Ward, the woman he married before Mrs Plunkett. I i have not her address, but if you will kindly. I send this letter to her or ascertain he ' whereabouts, I shall esteem it a very grea^ favor. We are tryinsr to get this lady ov c here, and stop Worthington's career. Y QU will confer a lasting benefit upon the citize fl of Christchurch by taking this matter 3 p Hoping you will do so, I remain, Yours respectfully, John Hosking, . Methodist minister, Christchurch, New Zealand." worthington's notorious career as a [ " christian scientist "in new york. A. Bentley Worthington first became notorious in this city early in June, 1889, when his " Christian Science " marriage to Mrs Mary Hodgkins Plunkett, wife of J. J. Plunkett, was disclosed. Mr and Mrs Plunkett were not divorced at the time. She was the handsome and magnetic priestess of tho so-called Christian Science Healing Temple, No. 13, West Forty-second street, which she owned, and Worthington, besides being one of the chief " healers," was associated with her in the publication of the International Magazine of Christian ScienceThe Christian Science " wedding " consisted simply in their signing a paper declaring they were '• soul mates " and should con« tinue so for ever. Husband Plunkett, who. was then a devotee of the faith, cemplaisantly signed an agreement to separate from his wife, with whom ho divided hia property. Worthington was afterwards exposed as an unmitigated scoundrel, alias "A. B. Ward," "Bonner," "Walton," "Wardsworth," "Judge Crawford," "Bannerton," etc., and a heartless bigamist, who had deserted seven wives under the most contemptible circumstances in Boston, Chicago, and other places. Plunkett then lost faith in Christian Science and applied for and obtained a regulation divorce from Mrs Plunkett Worthing, ton in November, 1889. Many of the Christian Scientists denounced the Worthington-Plunkett nuptials and refused to attoud the " temple." The Internation Magazine also lost prestige, and finally Worthington and the woman disappeared from New York. They have not been heard of since until the present news of their appearance iv New Zealand,