THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9565, 30 December 1909, Page 6

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS.

SPLIT IN THE NEW YORK GAMP

JEALOUSLY Otf RIVAL

LEADERS.

A cable message recently stated that, after three days' secret trial, Mrs Augusta Stetson, leader of the Christian Scientists of New York, had been excommunicated for rebellion against Mrs Eddy, the founder of tbe first Christian Science Association. Mrs Stetson's adherents threatened to establish a rival organisation. Mrs Mary Baker Glover Eddy, the founder of the Christian Saience movement, was born in 18,31, and is therefore 88 years of age. Her education included natural philosophy, chemistry, aud astronomy, besides the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, aud Freuch languages. She was a member of the Congregational Church till 1879, though she began to teach the "Science ot Mind Healing" in 1867. She founded the first Christian Science Associatiou in 1876, aud the National Christian Science Association in 1886. She organised the First Church of Christ Scientist, iv Boston, in 1879, aud became pastor emeritus of the Mother Church. She is the author of a large number of books on subjects connected with Christian science. Mrs Eddy was boru of good old New Euglaud stock in New Hampshire. Her father, Mark Baker, was the i descendant of men who for two hundred years had farmed in that State. He was a Congregationalist of the old school, who died in 1865. at the age of 80. He has beeu described as "ignorant, dominating, passionate, fearless." He drove the sharpest bargains, paid Ins workers the smallest wages." But he "never cheated a mau. aud he always sacredly kept his word." He was a stroug advocate of slavery, opeuly rejoiced over the assassinatiou of Abraham Lincolu.aud so strict a Sabbatariau that he made his six children, after attending service ou Suuday. sit quietly with folded bauds ail the rest of the day. His children resembled him in being high-tempered aud headstrong. Mary A. Morse Baker—who was afterwards to become famous as Mrs Eddy—was his vouugest, and was the belle of the village. She lived till she was fifteen in the little farm house, .where every one worked twelve hours a day hut herself. She was au iuterestiug, beautiful, delicate child, with good taste in dress and a glorious head ot hair. From her youth up she was subject to fits of hysteria.

Mrs Augusta E. Stetson is in many respects a remarkable woman, and has become famous iv the United States as a Christian Science teacher aud practitioner, having obtained the degree of Christian Science Doctor in 18S4. She married a Captain F. J. Stetson (now deceased). She began the practice of Christian Science healing at Boston iv 1884; preached on alternate Suudavs iv the Mother Church in 18S5; was sent to New York by Mrs Eddy in 1896 aud organised the First Church of Christ, Scientist, New York, in 1887; she was appointed pistor in 1888, aud first reader iv 1895. wheu the title of office was changed in all Scieuce Churches. She became Principal of the New York Christian Scieuce Institute in 1891, and raised over 1,200,000 dollars to build the First Church of Christ, Scientist. New York, and dedicated it tree of debt in 1903. She is the author of a volurn. of poem.. HISTORY" OV CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. The origin and growth of Christiau Scieuce is described as follows by Mr Frederick Dixon, a Christian Scientist :— Christiau Science is the name given by Mrs Mary Baker G. Eddy to the m.tapbysicai system of healing sickness aud sin, discovered by her iv February, 1886. The discovery came about through her own recovery from the effects of what threatened to be a fatal accident. Unable, as she told the physician who was attending her, to explain the mauuer of her recovery, the spiritual significance of which was manifest to her, she withdrew from the world for three years, aud, with the Bible as her oulv text-book, sought tiie scientific explanation of the occurrence.

Iv 1870, Mrs Eddy copyrighted the first Curistiau Scieuce publication the little book known as "The Scieuce of Man," which has since beeu couverted iuto the chapter called "Recapitulation." iv her book, "Scieuce and Health, with Key to the Scriptures," first published iv 1875 This book, which is the text-book of Christian Scieuce, contaius a complete statement of Christian Science, including its religious tenets.

Iv 1867 Mrs Eddy introduced her system of metaphysical healing. She began by teaching one student, but from this resulted the formation of the Massachussets Metaphysical College, chartered iv Bostou, in 1881, aud still open for the purpose for which it was instituted. Nine years later, iv 1876, she and six of her students organised the .first Christian Scientist Association, "aud on April 19th, 1879, at a meeting of this associatiou it was determined "to orgauise a church to commemorate the words aud works of our Master, a Mind-healing Church.without a creed, to be called the Church of Christ, Scientist." The cnarter for this was obtained in Juno of the same year, aud the church was organised with a membership of twenty-seven. Iv 1890 the membership was about 45,000. Iv 1892 this church was reorganised uuder the title of the First Church of Christ. Scientist. Boston, Mass., aud ou May 21st. 1894, the corner-stone of tne edifice was laid. This church, which accommodated 1100 persons, rapidly became too small. Within ten years plans had to be undertaken for its enlargement, aud in June, 1906, the extension, iv the form of a new church, capable of seating upwards of 5000 people, adjoining aud communicating "with tha original building, was opened to the public. THE MOVEMENT CRITICISED. At the Pau-Auglicau Church Congress, held iv London in 1908, Dr Eleanor M. Reed, of the United States, who spoke ou Christian Science, said those who had honestly investigated available evidence, acknowledge that among those with whom the so-called religion had become a matter of gcuaine personal convictiou there were occasionally wonderful cuies of real orgauic disease. She had personally examined innumerable cares wrought by Christian Science, aud in every case a good working knowledge of psychology explained the physical changes. The followers of Mrs Eddy claimed immunity both from infective diseases and also from accidents. As to tho former, it was probable, looking at the questiou from a scientific standpoint, that the claim could often be verified. Much depended upon vital resistance, and that power was largely controlled by the mental and physical conditions under

i which the individual lived. One of the saddest of facts regarding Christian Science was that it was denied the reality of suffering. As to accidents, it was generally observed that the disoiple3 of Mrs Eddy were a distinctly cautious people. Bishop Mylua, formerly of Bombay, narrated an iucideut of heahug a siok person by prayer, in which he took part. ' , . • Dean Hart, of Denver, told an anecdote. "At a meeting in Denver the chairman got up aud asked, Are there auy Christian Scientists here.' A lady in the audience rose and said, 'lam a ChristiaulSoieutist.' 'Then, niariatn,' was the reply, 'I wish you d change places with me 'I'm sitting in a draught.' "