Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-06-07
FOUND HER MATE
WHY MRS. PLUNKBTT HAS NO FURTHER
USB FOR HBR HUSBAND.
The Christian Scientist Leaders Separate by HutuA
Agreement and the Prisstess Now Lives
With Her Afinity-What the
Ex-Husband Says.

NEW 1ORk, June o.-JOnn j. L. Pun
kett and his wife, Mary Hodgins Plunkett,
have been known as high priest and priest
esq among the Christian Scientists OF this
country for several years. Together they
have taught their peculiar views, and per
formed their healing art in Chicago, De-
troit, San Francisco and Washington, and
about two years ago they came to New
York and opened temple at No. 13 West
Forty-second street.
DR.. Plunkett is a fne-lOoking man of 38
years. His wife is his senior by three
years. She is decidedly handsome, with a
most charming manner Mr.. and Mrs.
Plunkett was married nearly 20 years ago
in Massachusetts,, and have two bright
children, daughter, Pearl, II years old,
and Paul, boy of 8.
In their work as Christian scientists they
were very successful and are known to
have made from SIS, 600 10 $40, 900 a year
by their teachings and mind cures. With
the advent of A. Bentley Worthington,
however, a change came over the little
household. Worthington was born near
Schenectady in this State in 1916, but went
to California with his parents in 1850. He
has resided there ever since, until six
months ago, when he came TO New York
on his way to Europe. Here he became
interested in Christian science, and also
became intimate with the Plunketts. He
postponed his European trip, and Mr.
Plunkett saw and grieved silently over the
growing intimacy between his wife and the
Californian.
Mrs. Plunkett was in Washington in
March last, as WAS also Mr.. Worthington.
They telegraphed DR.. Plunkett to meet
them there. He responded and he and his
wife had long and earnest conference.
She told him frankly, prayerfully and tear
fully that they were not intended for
each other that she had met her affinity
and asked to be released from her mar
rage vows. He was forced to admit that
their relations were not what they should
be, and together they drew up and signed
an agreement of separation, as follows:
"We the undersigned, having dedicated
our lives TO the service of The Good, an d
determined to speak, act and live in &C.
cor6ance with il, do declare both TO you
who faithfully serve and to you who earn
estly seek the truth, as follows;
"For many years we have recognized
that the affection between US was purely
fraternal, and we have lived and worked
together as friends. Having feared the
results of its publication and the pOssibil-
it's OF our example proving dangerous to
others, we have hitherto concealed the
fact. We have now gained riper
wisdom; we know with deep and
glad certainty that Truth al
ways and everywhere proves a blessing,
not curse; we know that our action, far
from being a stumbling-blOck, will only
aid the many who are striving to solve
the same problem. We, therefore, from
the most profound conviction of duty, do
Jointly declare our marriage contract null
and void in so far as it lies in our power
10 render it so In thus candidly taking
this stand before humanity, whom we love
and strive TO serve, we experience that
peace which passeth understanding"
WEIGH the world and the opinion of the
world cannot give or disturb. The Truth
has made Us free
John J. 7. PLUNKETT,
"MARY II. PLUNKETT." "
The now divorced couple retired, but on
the morrow they awakened to the idea
that their action was hssty, and that
should it be known among their thousands
of pupils and followert the example might
be in urious. They then, according TO Dr..
Plunkett resolved not to publish the
paper. but hold it inviolable ameng them
selves Mrs. Plunkett, however, held the
document ie her possession, and conceived
it to be her duty to give it a place in the
April number of the International Magazine
of Christian Science, of which she was the
editor and part proprietor. To all in
ouiries the Plunketts declare they had for
years led lives of confluence and celibscy,
though maintaining the outward semblance
Of husband and wife. They insisted that
they could thus do Gods holy work more
acceptably.
Worthington, however, became an OBJ
stacle to all Mrs. Plunkett's precOnceived
theories. He and Mrs. PluDkett wrestled
with the subject of their love until they
believed they were justified in entering
into the married relation.
Their minds once made up as to the right,
they invited a dozen of their friends to the
temple on Forty-second street few days
ago land there before them grsvely an
nounoed that they had been married since
their creation; that they were foreOrdsined
as husband and wife; that they only went
through the present form of ceremony to
save their conduct from misconstruction
by their friends and the world at large.
Then the bridegroom solemnly and rev.
erently repeated formula agreed upon by
them, as follows:
'In the presence of God and you my
friends here assembled, l take Mary
Hodgkins Plunkett TO be my wife, promis-
ing. with Divine assistance, to be unto her
a faithful and loving husband, forever and
forever"
Mrs Pluukett then repeated the formula
and the couple received the congratula-
tions of their friends, and then retired to
their rooms upstairs where they now re-
side With them are the two children,
Pearl and Paul. The home is a comforta-
bic one, and to all appearances the occu-
pants are happy and contented, at
least they seemed so TO re-
porter who paid them a visit last
evening. Mr.. Worthington greeted |
the caller without embarrassment, as did |
his bride. The reporter asked If be could |
extend the usual congratulations. There
was moment OF hesitation before she an
swered yes" Then the blue eyes dim
med with tears and the sweet lips trembled |
as she said:
ST am sorry if our private affairs have
become known to the public. But we felt /
it could not be concealed and are ready to /
accept the cruel things that will be said of
us. We shall not complain. Oar hearts |
and our consciences tells us we have done /
right, and that God has approved our mar
risee. although it is contrary to human |
laws. Oh! II the world could only know /
the true. the God-like motives that actu-
ated us it would feel IS we do, that we
have done right. We do not expect the
world will Judge us justly and we are pre-
pared for their harshest criticism.
'We do not expect to win the world to
our views at once, but we shall devote our
lives to securing the liberty Of the people, |
and especially of woman.
"Do not confound us with the free low
ers. for we believe in marriage and would /
nave it On even more solemn compact than /
it is at present, but we also hold that di- |
vorces should be granted with as much /
facility as marriages are allowed. There
is a true soul mate for every one, and |
every one will be restless until that one is
found"
The beautiful woman was earnest IN her
ples. and realized fully that she and her
husband would be subject to the censure
of the world.