Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-06-18
DOCTRINES OF MRS. EDDY.
LEADER STATES HER POSITION.
Founder of Christian Science Clears
Some Points Raised in the Recent
Libel Suit of Mrs. Woodbury..

| Boston, June S-Mrs. Mary Baker
g. Eddy has given out statement con
cerning her attitude to Mrs Woodbury.,
who has Just lost her libel suit for $780,
| 600 against the founder of Christian
Science. Mrs. Eddy also touches uron
| her views in general concerning the
discipline of the church, her position as
! teacher, and her beliefs as to the Bible.
The statement is made through Ed
ward A. Kimball, of Chicago. who has
been in Boston for the last ninety days
assisting Mrs Eddy in preparing her
defense in the Woodbury. case. MIR.
Kimball makes the following eXplana-
tiOns on behalf of Mrs. Eddy:
Mrs. Eddy has solemnly declared
| from the first that she did not allude to
the plaintiff when writing about the
! Babylonish woman, ana the only dig
nilied and consistent course open to
her is to rest peacefully on that declar-
alton, and let others contend, if they
WILL .......
Mrs. Eddy does not believe, or teach,
or want anyone else to believe that she
is infallible. We and she believe in the
infallibility of God only,
NOT "woMAN CLOTHED IN THE SUM-
'She does not think that she is the
woman clothed in the sun spoken OF
Fin revelation She does not teach or
want anyone to believe that. On the
contrary, we do not believe that the
word woman means any woman, but
rather refers to conditions of thought,
or the revelations of truth.
The witnesses did not explain our
belief about Mrs. Eddy because there is
no formulated belief on the subject.
She discovered Christian Science and
founded or established Christian Science
as religious belief or faith. 1t may lie
said in a general way that Christian
Scientists regard her as the one who
has perceived this spiritual science and
as Que who by reason OF her moral and
spiritual culture, has become the lOgi-
cal, beloved and well-cquipped leader
of this denomination. She is generally
recognized as being one of the fore
most religious teachers of the age.
'She has never taught privately or
otherwise any theories concerning gen.
Grafton or any of the phenomena of
existence contrary to or in addition to
those which have bten uniformly pre
sented in her claSseS0and stated in her
books. In her work, 'Retrospection
and IntrospectiOn, she writes: We do
not question the authenticity Of the
scriptural narrative of the virgin
mother and Bethlehem Babe, and the
Messianic mission of Christ Jesus, but
in our time no Christian Scientist will
give chimerical wing to his imagination
or advance speculative theories as to
the reOccurrencG OF such events
USES POWER sPARINGLY.
Regarding the effort made to show
the exercise of unusual control by her
over the affairs of the church, it may be
said that the bylaws of our church are
originated by hcr, or by the directors,
or by the first members but they are
not adopted without her approval. On
the other hand no bylaw can be en-
forced unless the church does enact it.
These bylaws do seem to lodge with
her considerable discretion or veto
power, but it is not for any other pun"
pose than to maintain the integrity OF
the denomination and its affairs. As a
matter of fact she seldom exercises any
of her privileges provided for, and all
of our branch churches are indepen
dent organizations.
"Regarding the comment about Mrs.
Eddy's income and financial affairs, the
facts are that there are over 500 church
societies in our denomination. None of
the usual provisions has been made for
the financial support of the central de
nOminational organization. Other
churches take up quarterly and annual
collections for this purpose; we have
none. The only money we get for such
purposes is derived from the sale of
literature, including Mrs. Eddy works.
| think that during the last five years u
very large part of her means has been
devoted to the advancement of the
cause.
81 am convinced that Mrs Woodbury.
made n great mistake in assuming that
Mrs. Eddy was willing to do her gra-
tutous injury. Some day she may
learn that She has made a mistake and
realize that Mrs. Eddy was ever a ten
der, loving teacher, intent upon the
genuine welfare of student. | have
never yet talked with anyone who said
he thought that the reference Mrs.
Eddy made meant a person. RECORD
Herald Chicago, June 9th.