The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-02
FAITH HEAlERs ARE MANY
The Sessford Case Winning Re-
cruitS to Christian Science.
REGARDED AS PERSECUTION
The Principles Involved Not New
Questions of Law Passed Upon in
Many Stmtes Before-The First
Church of Christ. Scientist, Its
Fonnder and It's Followers.

The Christian Scientists or Washington
this is due, 1T Is claimed, to the
persecution, as 1t is called, OF the Chris
tian Scientist principles or Mrs. sessford,
whose interesting case is now under ad-
visenenJ Ia the court OF Judge Mills.
Mrs. Sessford Is Christian Scientist, fol
lowing tie doctrines of her religion and
profession, and has been accused or prac
ticing medicine without license, and the
defense is that the law under which the
defendant is being tried in Unconstitu-
tional.
The Christian Scientists have been pro-
crossing with amazing rapidity or late,
bat with such quiet and absence OF trun'-
pets or prospectuses that very few realize
what a powerful and numerous body is
the aggregate congregation.
The church in this city is known as the
First Church OF Christ, Scientist, at which
there are services at II O'Clock on Sunday
mornings, ind experience meetings on
Friday evenings. The latter are the
occasions for substantial testimony TO the
practical character OF the Christian Scien-
tist, because at these meetings those who
have been benefited by the doctrines, by
belief and practice, makespuhiic profession
OF the facts in each individual case.
The last or the services until the middle
o: September were hed last sunday. The
congregation was then increased by very
many members, as if in protest against the
case OF Mrs. Sessford, who is a member
of the Tirst Church OF Christ Scientist
The foremost expoRents of the doctrine
In Washington are John T. LiDscOtt C. S.
D., and Ellen Brown Lins c, s. D..
the latter OF whom, when mere college
graduate, undertook 10 found and did
found the second church of this faith in
the United States, the church In Washing
ton. The first church was founded in
1888, in Boston, with a small member
ship, yet at this time there is a tctal
membership lii the United States OF more
than 200 900. at 500 places of worship.
The cult has crossed The water and Is
making headwax at the European capitals,
and especially in Paris and Boston. The
Boston church of this faith cost $500 900.
Other fine edifices arein Kansas City, where
there are three churches: Denver, Duluth
and Chicago. They have used the Audi
building d church to cost 800 900.
DR.. LiRscott said yesterday, speaking
about the spread of the religion, that there
is scarcely a little town OF hamlet in the
United States where thereis not body of
students of this doctrine Dr.. LinseOtt
described the distinctive feature OF the
worship or practice as that INSTEAD OF
sermon they use the International Bible
lessons, the reading OF Eib'e texts, their
correlatiye passages in TIE Scriptures
and tue corresponding definitions OF the les
sons from the textbook, Science and
Health, with ley to the Scriptures" This
book is by Rev Mary Baker EDDY, the dis
coverer and founder Of Christian Science,
her first conclusions on this ssnbiect
having been reached in 1866. In the
Washington church there are two Tea derS,
DR.. Linseott and Mrs. Linscott. the latter
taking The Interpretation of texts and re-
lated passages.
The church people of this faith are
disposed to regard the SesSford case. as
above stated, as one Of persecution. brand
Mrs. Linscott said Yesterday that the
principle involved was not q new one
The question Of law involved in this
case has been passed on in forty-three
States, aud invariably In favor OF the
defendant, except in Nebraska, and even
in that State the test case was de-
cided fayorably by jury but the law was
otherwise construed by the superior court.
Christian Science they define to be the
divine method of healing diseases: or as
Mrs. Eddy, its high priestess, has de-
fined it, Christian science is the law Of
God; the law of good interpreting the
administrative principles and rules of
universal harmony.
Under q commission of this kind the