The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-04
MYSTERY OF INIQUITY"
WORDS THAT FIGURE IN THE WOOD
BURI-EDDY LIBEL CASE.
witness Explains the Meaning of the
First, but Is Unable To Define the
Last-Other Testimony.

BOSTON, Mass, June 3.-The trial Of the
libel suit of Mrs. Josephine c. Woodbury.
against Mrs. Mary G.. Eddy, head of the
Christian Science Church. which was begun
last week, was resumed to-day. There was
additional interest in the case because 1T
was understood that Judge S. ]. Hanna.
the reader OF the First Church of Christ,
Scientist, who last week could not be found
by the court officers, had returned from a
vacation and would appear as witness.
Judge Hanna was in court.
w. b. Johnson. secretary of the board OF
directors and clerk of the First Church of
Christ, Scientist, in resuming the stand
to-day, expressed a wish TO correct an
answer made while testifying last week.
He did not receive letter from Mrs. Eddy
between the time of the reinstatement OF
Mrs. Woodbury. and her communication
The cross-examination OF Mr.. Johnson was
resumed. Mr.. Elder, counsel for the de-
PENDANT, objected to a question as to the
meaning of the words mystery of iniqui-
ty," contained in the alleged libelous mes
sage from Mrs. Eddy to the church.
The court ruled that the question might
he answered, but that the answer should
have no weight to show what was intende
III must prove two things, namely, that
the defendant intended the language used
TO apply TO the plaintiff and that her hear
trs and the leaders so understood il.
The question was then repeated to Wit
ness Johnson, who said: "By mystery is
meant something which has never been
soived. As regards 'iniquity, that is some
thing which the courts and church people
have tried unsuccessfuly for generations
to define. and l am, therefore. not able to
explain what is meant"
Mr.. Peabody then took IN a letter writ IN
by Mrs. Eddy to Mrs. Woodbury.. March
81 1895, and reading the first paragraph. in
which Mrs. Eddy denied that she had any
part in the communication of Mrs Wood
bury, asked the witness if Mrs. Woodbury.
had been communicated at that time.
Witness at first answered no" but when
his attention was again called to the mat
ter by subsequent question he said he
wished TO change his answer TO yes
Witness said that a message received by
him on June o. 1895. said, If Mrs. Wood
bury is in this audience, she is not in
cluded in my invitation to visit Concord.
Mr.. Peabody offered a copy of the record
entitled. Message TO the Mother Church,
by Mary Baker Eddy. Concord, n. H., May.
1891
Mr.. Joseph Armstrong testified to being
business manager of the Christian Science
Publishing Association. which business is
conducted by board of trustees for Mrs
Eddy. The message was copyrighted by
him under the name as proprietor. Henry
ID. Num-. an editor for the publishing COM
Gus message read in church was furnished
a certain reporter who was present at the
service.
Mrs. Clara F. Choate testified that she
was refused admission as a member of the
church, attended the service when the al
legged libelous communication was read. She
said she never understood il referred TO
any one in particular.
William C. Nixon. publisher of Mrs
Eddys books, until 1893, did not know of
the attitude of Christian Scientists gener-
lie
alleged libelous commit nication in the
Christian Science Journal He was asked
what his understanding was of the meaning
OF the passage, and who was the person re-
ferred to. His reply was: Mrs. Wood
bury, the plaintiff in this case
The last witness of the day was Judge S.
j. Hanna who said he had been away from
the city seven weeks He had been coun-
~ judge at Council Bluffs, Ia. and was
now student OF Christian Science. He said
he was first reader of the church, subject
TO Mrs. Eddys approval, provided by a
bylaw. He is editor of the Christian Sci
ence Journal and of the Sentinel.
Mr. Peaoody handed him copy of the
May GS9S) Arena, and called his attention
TO an article in it, written by Mrs. Wood
bury Over this article the lawyers had a
long argument as TO its admissibiity Mr..
Elder, for the defense, alleging irrelevancy
of the article to the promise of Mr. Pea
body that he would connect Mrs. Eddy with
the accommodation of Mrs. Woodbury.
Mr.. Peabody argued that the Arena article
was an incident bearing on the relations of
the two women; that ii constituted a motive
In Mrs: Eddy's mind: that it tended to
prove that Mrs. Eddy attacked malciously
and for revenge
The court refused TO admit certain aues-
tions relating TO the Arena article. Mr.. Pea
body thereupon questioned Judge Hanna on
other articles and the witness said Mrs
Eddy refused to grant permission for a re-
Ply TO the Arena article. The lawyers were
dlsputing over forms of questions to be put
10 witness over the article in question, when
court adjourned for the day.