The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1907-08-15
MRS. EDDY VISITED
BY THREE MASTERS
Men Appointed to Do so, Visit
Head of Christian Science
Church.
STOOD THE TEST WELL
NOT ONLY ANSWERED CUES
TIONS, BUT MADE A STATE
MENT AS TO HER POWERS-No
OPINION EXPRESSED.

/ Concord, y. H., Aug. 15.-The t1ree
| n Chamberlain of the superior court
to determine the mental competency
of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy. of the
| Christian Science church Wednesday
visited Mrs. Eddy in her home at
Pleasant View. For an hour the aged
woman faced fire of questions.
Masters and witnesses are absolute
ly silent as to the effect of this visit
upon the minds of the men who are to
decide the question of Mrs. Eddy's
competency.
But the main facts, gathered from
sources of unquestionable reliability,
are given below.
They found Mrs. Eddy paralyzed
and emaciated. yet strangely nerved
for the ordeal of examination.
Seated During Interview.
She received her visitors standing
terious home An instant later she
sank into an easy chair placed directly
behind her and remained seated to the
end of the interview. She did not
arise. even to say farewell.
Throughout the long fateful hour
she took no step or made no move
ment that she did not clearly indicate
pitiable physical weakness. The par
chment-like skin was drawn tightly
upon her almost fleshless face, but
the light blue eyes shone with strange
Il,
One of the masters who closely
studied this withered face with its
shining eyes was DR.. George F. Jelly.
Boston's most noted alienist. What
he read there whether record of
latent energy or powerful stimulation
is yet to be learned
For the first thirty minutes of the
session Mrs. Eddy answered every
question clearly and slowly in a high
inflectionless voice, suggesting the
recitation of a well learned lesson.
Her hands fluttered feebly in uncer-
tain gestures or fingered the lace
shawl that draped her emaciated
shoulders. But the high-pitched voice
never wavered and the light in her
eyes never waned
Visitors are Recalled.
1t was not until the visitors had
said farewell and left the library that
the aged woman underwent a sudden
and significant change. Then sharp
ringing of the bell that hangs close
beside Mrs. Eddy's easy chair filled
the house with its clamor. An instant
later a member of her household nur-
ried after the departing masters to
say Mrs. Eddy wished to complete her
statement.
Back into the library, darkened by
carefully drawn curtains, the mysti-
fled visitors hurried. They found Mrs.
Eddy where they had left her. upright
and rigid in her armchair. Excite
ment had crept into her bloodless face
and staring eyes.
1t was clear at first glance that the
aged woman was no longer in mood
only to answer questions. Almost be-
fore the visitors were seated, Mrs.
Eddy was talking, her high, though
feeble voice, penetrating every corner
Of the room. No question was asked;
none was needed.
While the masters and lawyers sat |
IN surprised silence the aged woman |
old of her God-given powers to heal /
he sick and of her marvellous appoint
nent to the great work.
Out of her own mouth. within the /
space of ten minutes, she had cover
I'd the whole ground of alleged delu-
sion charged by the next friends"