The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-31
CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE
WINS.
Important Decision Rendered
by Judge Fitzgerald In
New York.

Christian Science at New York las,
"Wednesday gained a decision In the court.
That is OF widespread importance and sig.
nihcance. II really gives the new creed the
legal stamp. and accords to its many ex.
traordinary contentious the dignity of be-
llefs.
Justice Fitzgerald decided that the vii.
or Helen {. Brush, wherein she bequeath-
ed her fortune OF 100000 to the First
Church Of Christ. Scientist, and practi-
cally disinherited her sisters, should
stand.
The amount OF the bequest Is the least
| element In the victory OF the new. belief.
| Tor IN the course OF his decision the JUS
| tce fully recognizes the belief az relig-
| ION, and answers the doctors who during
the trial of the suit testified that faith In
the claims OF the exponents OF the new
creed, belief I'm their ability 10 combat
disease, and even 10 bring the dead TO
life, was not evidence OF insanity
The truth or falslty of a religious be-
lief Is beyond the scope OF a judicial in
quiry,' quoted the Justice Then he went
on TO analyze the doctrines OF Mrs. Eddy,
as preached and practised by the congre-
cation Of which Mrs. Augusta Il. Stetson
is First Reader
III is insisted, continued Justice Fitz-
gerald. that the testatrix at the tire
she executed her will. was laboring under
various insane delusions. winch were the
sole or controlling cause that induced her
action.
"One OF these deusions Is said to have
been her belief that she was being per-
secuted by her sisters. Mrs Finday and
Hiss Brush, and another that she be-
heVed that certain marvellous things
such as the ability or person 10 live
after extracting all the blood from his
body, could be accomplished through the
powers OF the religion which she pro-
fessed.
Several experts were called who tes-
titled that. In their opinion. these beliefs
were insane dclusiOns aud demonstrated a .
lack OF testamentary capacity. and one
OF them went so far as to hold that the
belief In Christian Science itself was ain
Nsane delusion. The record rs replete
with testimony upon this subject, and the
workings and teachings OF this religion
have been gone into most minutcly and
elaboratey.
"Its adherents believe that matter has
no existence except as "A manifestation OF
mind. that the divine mind Is all con
trolling, that the husman mind by becom-
ing clean and purified. can TO degree
realize and employ the powers OF the
divine mind. that all sickness and bodily
Ills are merely n. species of sin error or
OF the human mind. and are I'm no wise
phenomena Of matter that the divine
mind has the same power TO relieve one OF
such sin or error manifested I'm the form
OF disease as it has To expel any other |
unclean or evil thought, and that the |
human mind, ~ % can only so perfect it |
the omnipotence OF the divine mind. also /
will be able TO throw off and rid itself |
of disease.
TESTATRIX WAS SANE
''It is their belief that Christian
Science is able TO remove the imperfec-
lions OF which the disease was the re-
suit. IL is therefore evident that. how
ever opposed these teachings may be TO |
,he beliefs OF actions OF others. they are
rounded on the religious convictions of |
hose processing them. This being so,
ne court cannot say that those persons
IRE mentally unsound."
After thrashing over the question of the |
ruth or falsity OF the Christian Science
claims HIS honor finally concluded that II
made no difference i'm this case
she was" he said. lin my opinion,
thoroughly aware OF what she was about
when she made this disposition. and she
learly knew the contents OF her will,
which was In absolute accord with her
rec and unconstrained intentions and
wishes. Whether her determination not
o give her fortune 10 her family was un-
Use. whether the residuary legatee herein
as deserved the affection and gratitude
which the testatrix has 80 bountifully |
iven evidence of. are not questions for
his court 10 consider i'm arriving at it's
ecision
THE decedent. being OF sound mind and
rec from restraint, had the right TO do
nth her own as she pleased. and her will
lust therefore be admitted TO probate"
Similarly the point that Miss Brush was |
ndulv Influenced by Mrs. Stetson and
ther Christian Scientists Is discarded and
ne court ordered the will TO stand
II took Justice Fitzgerald what would
lake four columns of type In this news
aper to lay clear his views.