New-York tribune., 1899-07-14

lowed to advance to an incurable stage, through
neglect on the part OF the patient
"she was a devout Christian Scientist. salo
her sister yesterday afternoon. and memoe'
of the First Church Of Christ. In Forty-elgh'h
st. When she was first taken SICK early IN
March, she tried by her own efforts to ward OF
the disease She would read books which she
said were able to restore health. she prayed con-
tinuaiiy. and all the while refused the medicines
offered to her Notwithstanding, the disease
continued urtil she became utterly heipies'
Whenever aaked her to call in physician. sne
always answered. NO. God is almighty he Is
able to save
Nevertheless, she grew so weak that oy inc
middle of May she sent her daughter 10 MI .
Augusta Stetson. a reader of the First Chuic"
Of Christ asking for help. AFTER SOME 'iii'e
Mrs Stctson answered that she couio no. come
herself but would send Miss MendeS' oi No
90 West Twenty -sxth-st
Miss Mendez. colored. is dressmaKer oy
trade and also a member Of the First Church
"she came twice week. cohtihueo mis'
Dr.per. "and prayed and read from certain
y .ot. ~ her belief We paid her for her visits.
Rv the end of the first week Of her treatment
her natient had sunk so low that insisted on
calling in Dr. Peter A. Johnson. OF No. 2OS
West Thirty-third-st. He diagnosed the case
as dropsy. and prescribed medicines which the
s,ck woman refused to take. Three weeks later
again called in DR.. Johnson. who. said the case
was homeless unless medical attendance was
heeun Immediately. At this time Miss Mendez
left us. She said that she was compelled 10
give I'm the case and would send another healer
in her stead.
Another woman called but after looking at
the case said that she was TOO busy TO attend
10 t. Mrs Belt now willing to have a
physician We summoned DR.. Johnson thiro
time hut II was too late. She died three days
later, on June o."
II was learned further that neither Miss Men
deg nor the woman who took her place mad
been seen or heard Of since Mrs. Belts oea'h'
Neither hid the church Of which she was
member made any inquiry concerning her
A Tribune reporter called at the home or MISS
Mendez and found her busy with her oress-
making When asked about the death OF Mrs'
- was with Mrs. Belt four weeks" she said
"and during the time Of my treatment she I'M
proved l do not care what the doctor hao 10
say / know that she was growing weiI.
When told that the swelling had gone into
the limbs after she began her treatment S'o
said: .o ,,,. a,s
ease was passing off that way why. Wheh
f1rst found her she could not leave her peo
told her to rise and walk, and she did SO.
. why did you leave your patient before she
was well?"
II am not a regular practitioner and because
Of my dressmaking l did not have the tlms 10 10
continue the treatment properly. l reported 10
Mrs stetson and left the matter there
know nothing about what has happened since.
i aid not bring any other woman TO take my
place but all the while I kept treating Mrs
Belt by an absence treatment
what is absence treatment" was asked
Absence treatment" she answered. Is the
influence exerted by an absent healer upon a
patient who keeps his mind pure and open to the
healer's prayers" ,,.
'T believe in this faith, she SAID, many,
seven IL every Christian scientist but myself
was stricken down dead. Mrs. Belts death oc-
CURED because of her own fear and the mortal
thoughts OF her friends who opposed me-
reporter called at the First Church or CHRIST.
but was unable to see Mrs. Stetson. as II was
said she was holding consultation and could
caa n