The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-11
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE FRENZY.
YOUNG WOMAN CRiZED BY TlG0
YEARS DEVOTION TO CULT.


sons Church. taken TO santarlum
After Night Of VIVA Having Gave IN
Her Life to Religion AMER COnNert an.
Grace Carpenter, who lived with her
mother and brothers In an apartment at
Isl West End avenue, became violently
insane late on Thursday night and her
condition was 80 serious yesterday that
II was necessary 10 remove her to sani-
tarium According TO the young woman's
brothers. her breakdown takes the form
OF reli gious mania brought on by her en-
thusiastic acceptance of the doctrines of
Christian Science. In her rawlings yestcr-
day, she insisted that her family vas
trying to tear her from her faith, which
she would never relinqush
Miss Carpenter IA a slight, good looking
young woman about 2j years old. Two
years ago she became interested in Chris
tian Science through her music teacher,
Miss Morrill, who IS a member of Mrs.
Stetson's First Church Of Christ Scientist,
at Ninety-fourth street and Central Park
West Miss Carpenter brothers say that
Miss Morrill, talked Christian Science to
their sister whenever she got chance,
explained the doctrines and induced her
10 read a number of books on the subject
Miss Carpenter. greatly interested in the
subject from the first. soon became CON
vert and thereafter attended Mrs. Stet-
sons church twice every Sunday and IN
the middle Of the week when the Eek
perience lessons were given.
The Carpenter family opposed the young
woman's conversion and did their best to
argue her out OF her belief but they DIDN'T
make much Roadway. AZ that time they
foresaw no real harm SO finally they ceased
their opposition and Miss Carpenter be-
came an enthusiastic Scientist, In her
bedroom she kept large number Of books
explaining the doctrines which she studied
much Of the time and frequently she argued
exctedly with her mother and brothers
In an effort TO bring them TO her way VI
thinking.
In these arguments she appeared PER
fectly zane until about six months ago,
when the family thought that her eXhoria-
tons were "A trine hyserical There was
little or no recurrence Of this however
and nothing more was thought OF it, Miss
Carpenter spent much Of her time with
friends who are also Scientists. talked OF
little else and apparently thought of little
except her new religion.
On Thursday night one Of her brothers !
escorted her home from the house of a re-
latyp and at about II O'Clock the Young
woman began to talk incoherrutlya and rave,
When her mother and brothers tired to
quiet neT. she became NlpltUtlN hNNtfINhi. D
Il am Gods child. she screamed, and I
you cart take nv faith away from me
The good is good | am the Lords child
Miss Carpenters condition coon be- /
came so serious that her brothers bad to Z
hold her and DR. Ely who lives in the house. /
was summoned His treatment had no /
effect and he adyisod the family that the /
young woman's mind had given way |
and that it would be best to remove her !
10 n hospital
IL 4 1,-f, L.
had aroused the whole apartment house I
and attracted attention IN the street One /
of her brothers went ont and hunted hall Z
an hour for n policeman 70 summon an {
ambulance, but none could he found. Police 4
Headquarters was then appealed 10 by /
telephone. and the West Sixty-eighth street |
station was notified Still no policeman /
appeared. and one who was found on an |
adjoining post refused to leave hir beat. /
II was not until about II 80 according |
TO the family. that a policeman finally |
appeared at the house and sent in call |
for an ambulance.
The surgeon from Roosevelt Hospital, |
who responded gave Miss Carpenter an .
opiate. which quoted her and II was thought /
that in the morning her condition would |
be improved to such an extent that she |
could be kept at home. Al about 10 O'Clock, |
however, she became very violent again |
and had 10 be strapped 10 her bed. She |
protested that her brothers were the ones /
sentences from tho Scientist books at inter /
walls. It was then decided that she should T
be sent 70 a sanitarum and early In the /
afternoon she was dressed and persuaded /
TO go out,
her when she came downstairs accompanied /
by physician, two Of her brothers and the +
janitor Of the apartment As soon as she /
saw the carriage she became trcnzled .
You're trying to take me away some
wherel- she screamed Il won't 60, |
won't gol I'm Gods child Won't some
outsider save me from them2'
Her brothers tried to calm her and per-
suade her to enter the carriage but She
refused stoutly and resisted with such
strength that the four men were finally
Obliged 10 lift her. still screaming, of her
feet and carry hcr through the carriage
door. This was only accomplished after
struggle which lasted for several minutes
the young woman showing marvellous
strength
Her brothers and her physician think
that with complete rest in sanitarium for
several weeks her reason may be restored.
but they admitted that her condition was
very critical.
4 have no doubt that my sisters mind
Was unbalanced by her constant study of
Christian Science and the thought that she
devoted TO it, said one of her brothers
H. L. Carpenter. who is n curb broker
downtown We didn't realize until too
late how serious a hold IL had on her mind
The whole thing is due to religious excite
ment. She was Of perfectly sound mind
and was a bright girl in every way until
she got mixed up with that religion |
hope the publicity attached 20 her case
win serve as a warning to parents whose
daughters are liable TO become similarly
infatuated with the Scientist Doctrines
Miss Carpenters mother IA "a widow
She was almost Frustrated by her daughters
breakdown
II. Cornell Wilson. who acts as spokes-
man for Mrs. StetEons church. declared
yesterday that Christian Science could not
possibly have caused the young woman
to become insane.
@There is nothing to show that Christian
Science caused her breakdown any more
than anything else, said he, It il only
natural that, in her delinum, she should talk
OF Christian Science, as that was the sub
ject uppermost in her mind
WRITER or ONE act PL4l'S DEAD.
John Fowler Found In Eighth Avenue Hotel