Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-29
Los ANGELES HERALD THURSDAY MORNING. AUGUST 20 1901

scientists whom he consulted that the
Doctors disbelief in some of the teachings
of Christian Science would not in any
way interfere with his making a just and
fair estimate of Mrs Eddy's condition.
He visited Mrs. Eddy and has decided to
submit his findings for publication.
The following is Doctor Hamilton's s
statement:
II have informed myself in regard to
the mental condition of Mrs. Mary
Baker G. Eddy, and for this purpose
have examined a large number of docu-
ments and letters, perhaps one hundred
in all, and have examined her at her
home, Pleasant View, in this city. 1 have
also read the original bill filed by her
next friends George w. Glover ct al.
and the affidavits presented by them in
support of their contention that she is
an incompetent. 1t will appear from the
complaint of these people that she is in
capable of so understanding her property
rights as to be able to exercise her free
and unbiased will with respect to the
same. or to manage her affairs and pro-
tect her property with prudence and dis
cretion against the undue influence, con-
troll and fraud of others. and to take
charge of and manage the present legal
proceedings.
Show Mental Vigor
"The inspection and examination of
autographic letters written by her show
inherent evidences of mental vigor. Her
mode of expression is logical and con.
nected. Her construction is admirable,
and these as well as the typewriter com
munications emanating from her are the
products of an unusually intelligent mind.
Not only are their contents responsive,
but they show concentration and the exer-
else of a normal memory In several of
them are there interlineations correc-
tions and additions. which convey more
fully what she has already said. In her
letters to her counsel which / have read
with some care l find that she has re-
turned to him certain ones with explana
tory interlineations, and there has been a
promptness and vigor in her replies to his
own letters. The handwriting itself is re-
markably firm for a person of her age
and there are no mistakes, neither are
there omissions. Her words are well
formed and although there is a slight
tremor, not uncommon in old people and
possibly because her mind travels faster
than her pen. do not regard this in any
way as pathological. From the large
number of letters appended. which l have
read, there is no mental defect indicated. |
In those written to Mr.. Farlow there is a
keen anxiety regarding her copyright, a
desire to avoid the violation of the copy
right laws, an appreciation of what has
been done for her by him, certain direc-
tions in regard to the preparation of the
literature of the church and other matters
connected with her daily life and her posi-
tion as the head of the church. l find in
the letters addressed to Mr.. Mcclellan the
same kind of intellectual good order, and
in fact there is nowhere the remotest sug-
gestion of mental feebleness.
My particular interest is with the
papers written by her in the period begin
ming March. 1906, and extending down
almost to the present time. These papers, |
which 1 understand have been prepared
and drafted by her, indicate either alone
or together a good deal of intellectual
strength and consistency, and in this con-
nection 1 would draw attention to the
draft of a trust deed prepared in March,
1906, and another in February, 1907, one of
which was the basis for the establishment
of trust for the benefit of George w.
Glover and his family.
''I have also read the instructions con-
veyed in the letter of February II, 1907, |
which was sent inclosed in letter writ
ten by Mrs. Eddy to her personal counsel, |
Mr.. Streeter, and which led to an extended
correspondence. All these things prove
that she possessed a continuity of inten-
ton and much deiberation, which is, of
antagonistic to anything impul-
sive; that she had good and sufficient
reasons in the preparation of this trust
deed; that there was tenacious purpose in
continuing to elaborate and carry out her
original idea of providing for her next of
kin and in advancing the interests of the
Christian Science church
"She showed an ability to direct and
criticise others as to her affairs and in
everything a normal amount of will power
which was exercised in a proper direc-
GtaA hnA fl7a aif m mi q fn
details. to correct mistakes and to see
that others were put right which implied
a power of attention which would not
exist in an individual of weak mind. She
possessed a perfect knowledge of her sur
roundings and the duties and obligations
of those who were serving her.
No Nervous Disease
my visit to her house was made on
the afternoon of August II, at p. m.
found her to be an elderly woman, Of del
icate frame, and evidently somewhat af-
fected by the heat. There was, however,
no visible indication of any motor symp-
toms of insanity or nervous disease Her
was intelligent and in conso-
nance with what she said and did She
was dignified, though cordial, and pos
sessed certain sense of humor which
led her to perpetrate joke about, the
so-called next friends whom she re-
ferred to as 'nexters.' There was no
no affectation of speech, and be-
sides a certain amount of slight deaf
ness, found nothing the matter with
her. She fully understood the nature and
object of my visit, and was willing, as
long as she could, to answer my ques-
tions. In doing so she did not manifest
any excess of feeling, but responded
quickly and intelligently when she heard |
uhat WAS asked her
1.-THE interview was opened by her dis
avowal of any prejudice against physi-
clans. In fact she said that her cousin |
was a regular doctor who had become a |
and that her father had be-
lieved he was getting crazy because he
adopted this method of practice; but that |
he, however, had taken care of Mrs. Ed
dy, who had gotten better, and then she
herself had commenced a series CT ex- |
periments, gradually giving more and |
more feeble medicines until she gave
those with no potency whatever, but her
patients got we'll just the same. She |
then referred to her exposures of spiritu-
alism, which for time she became in
terested in. She said that she had after
ward investigated various religions at |