The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-12-21
MRS. TINGLEY'S SCHEME
DICTATOR OF THE POINT Iona
SOCIETY.
Claimed to be the Successor of Buddha
Christ and Mahomet-Thinks
Marital Laws False and
Perverted.

San Diego, CAL, Dec. 2o.-Formal evil
dence was turned to what purports to be
a remarkable revelation of the inner
workings Of the Theosophical Institution
at Point Iona at today's session of the
pending trial OF an action for libel in
which Mrs. Katherine Tingley. head of
the Universal Brotherhood is plaintiff
against The Times Mirror Company of
Los Angeles. defendants.
This evidence is in the form Of depo-
sition made by Louis s. Fitch of 200 Bond
Street. Hartford. Conn. The deponent
said he was employed as q bookkeeper
by the Universal Brotherhood of which
he became q member and had privileges
accorded to few others. He said Mrs.
Tingley was regarded as q. prophet in line
of succession. including Buddha. Christ
and Mahomet. and that she had told de-
ponent that marriage relations as known
to the world in her belief. were wholly
false and perverted and that those who
lived the life at Point Iona would evolve
so as to reach a stage where marriage
would not be necessary.
Mr.. Fitch said he lived at Point Iona
from August 1900. to March. 1901. He said
the pledge OF the Esoteric Society Of
Theopsophy was very binding. members
taking oath to obey the leader in all
things. the leader being Katherine Ting
ley. Mrs. Tingley had absolute control
over everything and everybody and she
exercised this in the minutest detail. She
regulated where all the members should
lodge. what they should eat and whore
they should eat at: whom they should
have conversation with: whom they
sould walk or talk with and whom they
must not speak to or look at.
Deponent testified that Mrs. Tingley
had a dog named Spot" and further
said:
Mrs. Tingley told me that Spot was
a great deal more than a pet believe
know said Mrs. Tingley that Mr..
Judges spirit entered into Spot at his
death. Mr.. Judge gave Spot to me at
the time of his death and at the time
that 1 assumed the leadership OF the
Universal Brotherhood as his success
sor.'"
The deponent testified further that Mrs
TinEley's supervision of the Intercourse of
members extended to interference Of rela-
lions between the members Of the same
family; that she did not allow Mr.. and
Mrs Arson, who were inmates, to speak
with their own children; that the colony
was patrollsd by armed guards and that
restrictions were placed upon the en-
trance Of visitors.
Mr.. Fitch described some Of the cere-
monies performed in connection with some
Of the orders to which he belonged. The
costume prescribed for all meetings ex-
cept the Sunday morning services consist
ed of a cheescloth belted with cord at
the waist, this garment to be worn over
updarclothInR onlY and that no starched
clothing was to be worn according to
.Mrs. T1ngley's orders.
Mr.. Fitch says further that Mrs. Ting
ley was a very hard worker and although
her official title was that OF leader, she
was frequently addressed as Purple
by her Official cabinet and oftentIme as
''P" and frequently as Mother" until
she requested that the latter be stopped.
Mr.. Fitch affirmed that to his own knowl-
edge women members of the colony were
employed at hard work in the gardens