New-York tribune., 1905-01-16
MRS. PEPPERS CAREER.
BEGAN rs n SERVANT.
Says She Vas Married to Nan
Whose Name She Bears.

!
First Spiritual Church of Brooklyn, has gained
considerable prom nlence through her exhibitions
of spirit communication. vigorously denied yes
terday all parts of a story from providence
that threw any shadow on her character ana
intimated that her communications with the
spirits were not genuine
Mrs. Pepper spoke TO number OF reporters "'
the close of the afternoon service In the AuIol"
Grata Cathedral, Bedford-ave and Madison-st.,
BROOKLYN The members of the church stoou
around her listening TO her words ana al'er-
ward all expressed their confidence in her good
character and in the genuineness OF her powers.
Among them was ex-Surrogate Aoram n
DALEY, who has been a Spirituailst lot iiih',S
years and who drew up the creed OF the CI urn
which was organized about year ago. anu was
instrumental in getting Mrs. Pepper 10 aCCep'
the pastorate.
N-e Penner seemed entirely willing 70 speak
of her past life, declaring that there was noth-
ing TO conceal. She said that she had marrleo
| George William Pepper, but declared that there
was nothing discreditable in it, so far as she
was concerned. As to her psychic powers, she
asserted that she had often challenged unDe-
levers TO test her powers and all VINO had ac-
cepted the challenge had become convinced OF
her sincerity.
.'This attack on me-" said Mrs. Pepper in
calm tone of voice. Il attribute to a revenge1uI
feeling on the part of the man that l knew as
nv husband This is not the first time nave
suffered at his hands, as he has annoyed me
repeatedlv. Never have I sought TO have my
past life a closed book
In this report from Providence it IS set 1orth
as q discovery that my name was Miss Mary
Ann ScanneH. That is true. have stated that
fact from this very platform. To all who know
me am now Mary ScanneH Pepper 1t Is true
that began life humbly. working as servant
girl on a farm near Providence, R. 1. It is un-
true that 1 began TO develop my powers as a
medium there 1 have had them since childhood
MANY Of the assertions concerning my rela-
tions to George ". Pepper are absolutely false
He and I were married in due form in Novem-
Der. 1889. by a magistrate in New-York City.
did not know of his other marriage.
Il obtained divorce from him. This divorce
is a matter of record in Providence, and it may
be found there by those who wish to satisfy
themselves that am telling the truth. have
also certificate of our marriage One Of the
witnesses was Miss Harriet Gladding, Of Prov
tdence."
When Mrs. Pepper was through eX-Juose
DALEY who had been standing near her and
heard what she had TO say, asserted tnat ne
believed she was being prosecuted by her enc
mics All of the members of the church. he de-
cIared had implicit confidence in her and would
stand by her He added that Mr. Pepper had
come to see him in attempt to make trouble
for his former wife. but that he had told his
visitor rot to come again.
The first wife of Pepper IS now the wife of
DR.. W. E. Hubbard. dentist. living at NO. Zo9
Clarkson-st., Flatbush. She said:
William Pepper and might be living happily
together to-day had it not been for this woman.
fnaII,, left Mr.. Pepper and he went to Provi-
dence Finally Mr. Pepper seemed TO grow
tired Of his wife.
ct cannot understand how this woman dares
to come to Brooklyn and occupy a pulpit. When
I read in the papers last week that she had been
stricken down In the pulpit told my daughters
that it was just retribution.
Mrs Hubbard had two daughters by Mr..
Pepper After he went TO live with the medium
one Of the children was sent TO Pepper TO sup
port Mrs Hubbard says that Mrs. Pepper did
not like the girl and sent her to a Quaker set
tement."
The audience at the evening service yesterday.
over which Mrs. Pepper presided was the larg-
est she ever had in Brooklyn. She referred to
the publication of the story regarding her in
only an indirect manner. 1t was in her open
ing remarks that she said:
IF you ever traduce a woman or man who
has been touched by unseen hands. you only
traduce your own Christianity. Men and
women who have uplifted mankind and brought
IHeIu 10 q HlSHeE pane VI NtiuuBul nave ever
been tramped under foot"
She cited the ases Of Hypatia. Thomas Paine
and Voltaire.
After the receiving OF communications was
taken up Mrs, Pepper got message which she
said was from young woman who was drowned
in the Socum disaster Mrs. A. J. Hager. her
grandmother, of No. 167 East Sixty-fourth-st..
had requested the communication in q letter in
sealed envelope. Mrs Pepper told the grand
mother that velasca Miller. the SIocum victim
wished TO tell her that she need not be afraid
that something would happen to the other
grandchild. and that she could let her go out
freely. Mrs. Hager admitted that she had not
allowed the remaining grandchnd to so out alone
since the disaster.
DR.. I. K Funk, the well known publisher. who
has devoted much time TO the study and inves-
tgatIon of psychic phenomena recently. Is
firmly convinced that Mrs. Pepper possesses
genuine psychic power When seen at his
home. No. 1913 Washington Park, BROOKLYN. bv
a Tribune reporter last night. he said:
Il have made no investigation into the r,o-aI
character OF Mrs. Pepper and know, morning
about her history. but have studied her suDar-
natural powers and made tests Of then, sb
undoubtedly has psychic power 10 a erea1 %
gree Just what her power is l do not know
do not believe that persons moral cbaractar
has anything 20 do with these supernat,,r,,
powers. OF course. IL he had positive knovvtad
that person was not all that he shouIa -
morally Il might lead US 10 suspect thai ba ,-.
capable of fraud.
Il do not believe that Mrs Pepper is fraudu
lent. Fraud could not begin to explain all tbs
circumstances connected with her revelations.
DR.. Funk does not call himself a SuIrItuaItst