The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-04
FOOLS OR KNAVES :?
The Uhchristian Conduct Of Two
Christian Scientists.
MARRIED AT THEIR CREATION.
Mrs. Plunkett and Mr.. WOrthingtOn- She
Says Their Marriage was FOreOrdained-
The Plunketts Were Too Good.

Il
New YORK, June 3.-John J. T. Plunkett
and wife, Mary Hodgkins, have been known
as the high priest and priestess among the
Christian scientists of the country,
and for several years together per-
formed the healing act in Chicago,
Detroit, San Francisco and Wash
ington. About two years ago they came to
New York and opened at 13 West Forty
second street. DR.. Plunkett is fine-look-
ing man of thirty eight; his wife is his senior
by three years and is decidedly handsome.
They married nearly twenty years ago in
Massachusetts and have daughter, Pearl,
twelve years, and a son, Paul, eight In
their work as Christian scientists they were
very successful, and are known to-day
to make from $4,000 to $4,000 a year
by teaching and mind cures. With the ad-
vent of A Bentley Worthington change
came. Worthington was born near Sche-
nectady in 1912, and went to California
with his parents in 1870. He has resided
there ever since, until six months ago,
when he came to New York on his way to
Europe. He became interested in Christian
science, and also became intimate with
trip, and Plunkett saw and grieyed silently
over the growing intimacy between his
wife and the Californian. Mrs. Plunkett
was in Washington in March last, as was
also Mr.. Worthington. She telegraphed
DR.. PIunkett to meet them there He res
ponded and he AID his wife had a long
and earnest conference. She told him
frankly and truthfully that they were
not intended for each other. She
had met her affinity and asked to be re-
lieved from her marriage vows. He was
forced to admit their relations were not as
they should be, and together they drew up
rnd signed an agreement of separation as
follows: 1--WE, the undersigned, having
dedicated our lives to the service Of the
good, and determined to speak, act and live
in accordance with it, do declare, both to
you who faithfully served, and to you who
earnestly seek the truth, as follows:
"F'or many years we have recognized the
fact that the affection between, us was
purely fraternal, and have lived and worked
as friends. Having feared the re-
suits of its publication and the possibility
of our example proving dangerous to
others, we have hitherto concealed this
fact. We have now gained ripper wisdom,
and we know with deep and glad certainty
that the truth always and everywhere
proves a blessing, not curse; we know
that our action, far from being a stumbling
block, will only aid many who are striving
to solve the same problem. We, therefore,
from the most profound convictions of
duty, do jointly declare our marriage con
tract nullified and void in so far as issies in
our power to render it so.
"In thus candidly taking this stand be
fore humanity, whom we love and strive
to serve, we experience that peace which
-
and opinion of the world cannot give or
disturb. Truth has made Us free. (Signed)
John J. 7. Plunkett, Mary H. Plunkett.'
The divorced couple retired, but on the
awakened to the idea that their
action was hasty and should it be known
among their thousands of pupils and fol-
lowers, their example might be Injurious
They then, according to DR.. Plunkett, re
solved not to publish the paper but mold it
inyiolable between themselves Mrs
Plunkett, however, held the document and
conceived it to be her duty to give it a
place in the April number of the Interad-
tiOndI Magazine OF Christian Science, Of
which she was editor and part proprietor
To all inquiries the Plunketts declare
they for years led life of confluence and
though maintaining the outward
semblance of husband and wife They
insisted they could thus do Gods holy
work more acceptably.
Worthingten, however, became the OBJ
stacle to all of Mrs. PIunkett's preconceived
theories. He and Mrs. Plunkett wrestled
with the subject of love until they believed
they were justified in entering into the
relation. Their minds once made
up as to the right, they invited dozen of
their friends to the new temple ON Four
teenth street a few days ago, and there be-
fore them gravely announced that they had
been married since their creation; that they
were foreordained as husband and wife;
that they only went through the present
form of ceremony to save their conduct
from demonstration by their friends and
she world at large.
Then the bridegroom solemnly and rever-
entity repeated formula agreed upon by
hem, as follows:
'In the presence of God and of you, my
friends, here assembled, l take Mary
Iodgkins Plunkett to be my wife, prom
sing, with the divine assistance, to be
rue and faithful and loving husband for
,ver and for ever"
Mrs. Plunkett then repeated the formula
md the couple received the congratulations
# their friends and then retired to their
'ooms where they now reside. With them
re the two children, Pearl and Paul The
louse is comfortable one and to all ap-
the occupants are happy and
ontented, at least they seemed so to your re-
'orter who visited them last evening.
Worthington greeted the caller without
as did his bride. The re-
'orter asked if he could extend the usual
There was a moment of
esitation before she answered ives"
hen her blue eyes dimmed with tears and
he lips trenbled as she said: "Well, l am
orry if our private affairs have become
nown to the public, but we felt it could
ot be concealed, and are ready to accept
be cruel things that will be said of US. We
hall not complain; our hearts and our con
ciences tell US that we have done right and
hat God has approved our marriage, al
hough it is contrary to human laws. Oh
the world could only know the true,
fod-like motive that a. tuated us it would
eel as we do that we have done right We
o not expect the world will Judge US justly, !
0 we are prepared for their hardest criti-
ism"
Worthington took but little part in the |
but listened attentiyely and |
ras apparently satisfied with the argu- |
tents she advanced.
81 suppose we shall be deluged with let
srs tomorrow he exclaimed when she |
nished. She looked up silently into his |
ace, and laying her hand on his, almost |
loaned as she replied: "Ah darling, / am |
fraid we shall have no friends who will |
are to write to US by to morrow"
On the same street and almost within
tones throw of Worthingtoa's is Plum
ett's home. Your reporter found the de-
erted husband, who confirmed the state
lent Of his marriage, his separation from
is wife, and her subsequent marriage to
Forthington, but he appeared to bear no
lalice or resentment.
SIT is true" he said, my wife and / have
we'd lives of celibacy for several years.
ur separation was decided upon that we
light appear before our people in our true
ght. do not approve of my wife's con-
lct in taking up with this man Worthing
IN, and think she has only succumbed to