The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28
ANOTHER ACTS FOR HER
Christian Science Leader Does
Not Appear in Public.
Affidavit from John Hennesy, OF
Brooklyn, Says Mrs. ParmeHa ).
Leonard, Head of the Cult in that
borough, Drives Through streets OF
Concord, Pretending TO BE the
Founder of the Church.

New York, Oct. 1.-THE World to-mor-
row Will say:
Mrs. Mary Baker G. EDDY. founder or
the Christian Science Church. and one OF
the most remarkable women Of her gen
GRAFTON. is dying at her home in Concord.
n H, as the result OF an incurable can
GER"
The World viii aIlege that Mrs. Eddy's
denial that she is III, is misleading. and
also her declaration that she drives daily In
her carriage. It viii assert that the wo-
man who drives through the streets Of
Concord daily. and is reverenced by ad-
vocates OF the cult. is not Mrs. Eddy.
but a Mrs. Pauneiia J. Leonard. OF
Brooklyn, who is the head Of the Chris
tian Science Church IN that place.
The World declares that Mrs Eddy's
every act is controlled by Calvin Frye,
her secretary and personal attendant,
who acts as footman IN the various
drives.
According TO the Worlds story it will
be asserted that Mrs. Eddy made her
last genuine public appearance three
years ago on the balcony Of her home
at Pleasant View. Concord. In substdn-
tiation Of its assertion the World viii
print an affidavit Of a John Hcnnesy, o.
Brooklyn. who claims 90 personally know
Mrs. Leonard. and who III his affidavit
Identifies her as the Brooklyn leader.
Worlds story In Detail.
The World story, in part, is as fol-
lows:
Reporters for the World have seen
and spoken to Mrs Eddy in her guarded
home at Concord, y. H, within the last
few days She is very feeble and seeming
ly in the shadow Of death
Her palsied hand may have guided
in the signature that appears on her
letter, but for many months she has not
left her room.
Her daily drive through the streets
Of Concord is a fraud. Osteusibly Mrs.
Eddy makes this daily public appear
ance dressed IN velvets and ermine, 70
show her friends that she Is IN perfect
health. u is not Mrs Eddy. but an in-
pcrson2tor trained and costumed for the
part, who appears on exhibition drives.
This inpcrso sonator IS now known 10 be
Mrs Parmela j. Leonard. of Brook
lyn. heid Of the Christian Science Church
in that borough.
The city directory gives Mr.. Le0nard's
home address as IS Clinton avenue.
Brooklyn. This may De technical fa,.t
Actually. however. Mrs Leonard has been
an inmate Of AIRS. Eddy's home at Con
cord for The last three years.
Acts as Understudy.
There she has perfected herself as
understudy to Mrs. Eddy, aud has inper-
soHated the head of the Christian Science
Church in the daily exhibition drives when
To move the real Mrs. Eddy from her bed
would have meant almost certain death
90 the enfeebled woman
Mrs Eddy is poWeTless in the hands Of
designing persons They absolutely con
trCl her, and their employment Of Ms.
Leonards services is for a deep purpose.
Just what that purpose is may be easily
imagined.
Millions of Dollars Received.
''The World has collected a mass OF
facts bearing directly upon the surprising
conditions that surrounded the hidden life
Of Mrs Eddy
These facts are quite apart from the
tenets Of Christian Science, so-caIled. and
win appeal as forcibly to fair-minded
members Of the cult as to the general
public
Many millions of dolIars-just how
many the records fail to show-have
passed into Mrs Eddy's possession since
she took charge of the funds OF the
Christian Science cult. Millions Of her
books have been sold. and each book has
yielded royalty Of 81. From the mother
church in Boston she yearly receives a
great sum contributed by devOtees in ali
parts Of the world in the form OF annual
dues. one Of her closest friends and fol-
lowers estimates her fortune at $1,000 o10.
and her annual income at 81. 100000.
''Of this vast sum there is practically
no trace There Is no public record OF its
Investment; no Clew TO its distribution.
Her financial agent and cousin, Fred
erick y. Ladd, secretary Of the Loan
and Trust Savings Bank, OF Concord.
while refusing details, has said that Mrs.
Eddy's estate is surprisingly small. she
having expended the bulk Of her fortune
in charities
But none Of the charities aided by Mrs.
Eddy could be designated by Mr.. Ladd
or found by searchers. Mrs. Eddy's only
visible asset is the Concord house and
the forty acres Of park land that sur
round It, valued In all at S40ooo.
Christian Scientists the world over
doubtless will be anxious to know what
has become Of the great fortune of the
helpless old lady confined 10 an upper
room in her Isolated home"
Mrs Eddy's last genuine public appear
ance was three years ago, when, for a
moment. she posed on the balcony al
Pleasant View in sight Of the assembled
faithful. Since then Mrs. Eddy has been
invisible. save to Frye and the members
of his inner circle.