Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-30
THE WORLD TO KNOW.
Christian Science Mysteries Will Be
Exposed in Boston Court.

Boston, Mass, May 29.-The mys-
teries of Christian Science-its mcep-
ton, development, growth, and, in
word, the inside story of most re-
markaDle probably Will
become an open book in the course OF
the trial that began in this city to-
Gay. That is, all this is intimated in
the attitude of those who will prose-
cute the case.
Mrs. Josephine Curtis Woodbury., at
one time one of the most intimate
friends and enthusiastic workers with
Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, has brought
suit for libel against the founder of
Christian Science, and asks damages
amounting to $150,000.
Papers in the suit were filed in Oc-
tober 1899. Since that time counsel
on both sides have been collecting a
mass of evidence, and the prosecution
will have at. least eighteen witnesses
to tell what they know about Christian
Science and Mrs. Eddy.
Advertises for Witness.
Interest in the case was stimulated
last week by an advertisement insert
ed in the Boston newspapers by Fred
erick w. Peabody, counsel for Mrs.
=
formation which will enable him to dis
cover the whereabouts of former Judge
Septimus ]. Hanna, editor of the Chris
tian Science journal, and first reader
of the mother church, whom Mr.. Pea
body wishes to summon as a witness
for The plaintiff.
Declaration in the suits brought by
Mrs. Woodbury. contain nearly $4,000
uyN dc OFT. Il ,ctb inf "A
Science and what Christian Scientists
practice and believe
Once Leader in Church.
Mrs. Woodbury. was for several
years one of the most ardent workers
in the cause of Christian Science. She
lives in a handsome residence on
| Commonwealth avenue and has a
daughter and two sons, one of whom
| is student in Harvard. 1t is said she
was cured of disease of long stand
| ing and then became a firm believer
in Eddyism.
| After Mrs. Woodbury. left the Chris
| tan Science church, it is asserted, ref
erences made by Mrs. Eddy in her
message read before the congregations
| in the mother, church had special ref
erence to Mrs, Woodbury., and it is
these statements upon which the libel
| is largely based.
Mrs. Eddys Life Prophesied.
According to the declaration filed
4 by Mrs. Woodbury., Mrs, Eddy held
| that in her own personal life she was
] the fulfillment or realization of the
biblical prophecy or vision contained
| in the twelfth chapter of Revelation,
in which this prophecy appears:
| And there appeared great wonder
in heaven; a woman clothed with the
sun, and the moon under her feet, and
upon her head a crown of twelve
| stars"
LibeIed by Bible Quotation.
Mrs. Woodbury's husband died on
May 10, 1899, and on June 4, 1899, at
a service held in the First Church OF
4 Christ, Scientist, in this city, when
the annual communion service was
held, a message from Mrs. Eddy was
4 read, in which was a quotation from
i the seventeenth chapter of Revelation,
which, it is asserted in the declaration,
referred to Mrs. Woodbury. making
her out a bad woman.
4 Mrs. Woodbury's counsel will try to
show that his client was the woman
referred to in this passage and Others
of a similar character.
Former Believers to Testify.
, Many of the witnesses who have
been summoned were few years age
leaders in the Christian Science
church. but have changed their views
| 1t is said that Frederick w. Peabody
counsel for Mrs. Woodbury., spent near
~ two years in accommodating evidence
The founder of Christian Science
will not come to Boston for trial, Hel
deposition has been taken to her home
in Concord, N H.
Mrs. Woodbury. probably be one o.
/ the most important witnesses, and II
is said scores Of letters of persona
character which passed between hel
r and Mrs. Eddy will furnish one of the
sensations of the trial.
Although no longer q Christian Sci
ence, Mrs. Woodbury. is q believer il
mental suggestion, and for years has
practiced along this line, her following