The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-04
SUING MOTHER EDDY
BoSTON's QUEER DAMAGE SUIT
NOW IN PROGRESS.
A MYSTERY OF INIoUITY."
COURT TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT
Mars. EDDY MEANT.

IL II Succeeds 1t Will Confer a Favor
Upon the Rest of the COuntry-A
Letter of Mrs. Eddy to the 'Mother
Church." offered in Evidence-She
Did Not Include Mrs. Woodbury. in
Her NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Scien-
lists Conduct a Book Publishing.
business for Mrs. Eddy.
Boston, June S.-The trial of the libel
suit of Mrs. Josephine C. Woodbury.
against Mrs. Mary Baker G.. Eddy, head
of the Christian Science Church, which
was begun hast week, was resumed to-
day. There was additional interest in the
case because it was understood Judge
Septimus ]. Hanna, the reader of the
First Church of Christ Scientists, who
last week could not be found by the court
officers, had returned from a vacation and
would appear as a witness. Judge Hanna
was in court. w. B. Johnson, secretary
of the Board of Directors and clerk of the
First Church of Christ Scientists in re-
suming the stand to-day, expressed a wish
to correct an answer made while testify
ing last week. He did receive letter
from Mrs. Eddy between the time of the
reinstatement of Mrs. Woodbury. and her
communication. The cross examina-
ton of Mr.. johnson was resumed. MIR.
Elder, counsel for the defendant, objected
to a question as 10 the meaning of the
words mystery of iniquity'' contained in
the alleged libelous message from Mrs.
Eddy to the church.
The court ruledsthat the question might
be answered; but the answer should have
no weight to show what was intended by
Mrs. Eddy.
Judge Bell said the plaintiff must prove
two things namely, that the defendant
intended the language used to apply to
the plaintiff, and that her hearers and
leaders 50 understood it.
The question was then repeated to wit
ness Johnson, who said:
by mystery is meant something which
has never been solved. AS regards in
iquity,' that is something which the courts
and church people have tried unsuccess-
fully for generations to define, and 1 am
therefore unable to explain what is
meant"
The Letter to Mrs. woodbury..
Mr. Peabody then took up letter writ
ten by Mrs. Eddy to Mrs. Woodbury. on
March "A, 1896, and, reading the first para
graph. in which Mrs. Eddy denied that
she had any part in the excommunica-
tion Of Mrs. Woodbury.. asked the witness
if Mrs Woodbury. had been excommuni-
Gated at that time. Witness at first an
swered No" but when his attention was
again called to the matter by Subsequent
question, he said he wished to change
his answer to Yes"
Witness said that a message received by
him on June 5, 1895. said:
IF Mrs. Woodbury. is in this audience
she is not included in my invitation to
visit Concord"
MeSsnge to the Mother Church.
Mr.. Peabody offered copy of the rec
ord OF the copyright of the message, which
is entitled, Message to the Mother
Church by Mary Baker Eddy, Concord ~
H., May, 1899" nsiaxi
Mr.. Joseph Armstrong testified to be-
Ing business manager of the Christian
| Science Publishing Association, which
business is conducted by board of trus-
tees for Mrs. Eddy. The message was
copyrighted by him under the name as
proprietor.
Henry ID. Num-, an editor for the pub
'9Hlhs company Sdlu tnaJ copy OF the
alleged lfbelous message read in church.
was furnished certain reporter who was
present al the services.
Mrs. Clara E. Choate testified that she
was refused admission as a member of
the church; attended the service when the
alleged libelous communication was read.
sne said that she never understood it re-
1erred to anyone in particular.
William G. Nixon, publisher of Mrs.
Eadys books until 1893, did not know of
Inc attitude of the Christian Scientists
generally regarding Mrs. Woodbury.. He
read the alleged libelous communication
I" the Christian Science Journal.
ne was asked what his understanding
vas OF the meaning of the passage, and
Nho was the person referred to. His re-
ply was:
case"
Inc last witness of the day was Judge
d. hanna, who said he had been away
oln the city some weeks. lie had been
oouhty judge at Council Bluffs, Ia, and
vas now student of Christian Science