The sun., 1907-08-16
INSIST mrs. EDDY is INSANE
COUNSEL FOR "NEXT FRIENDS"
DEFINE HER DELUSIONS.
Declare That Her Christian Science Ideas
and Animal Magnetism Theory Are
Proof Of Mental UnDalance SAY Her
Religion n Only q System OF Medicine.

Religion n Only q system Of Medicine.
CONCORD. N. H.. Aug. i5.--The hearing
before a board OF three masters TO deter
mine the competency Of Mary Baker q.
Eddy was continued in the Superior Court
room to-day.
The greater part of the morning was
devoted to an argument by De Witt C..
Howe. Of the counsel for the next friends.
by which he sought TO show by the citation
OF authorities that il was proper TO inquire
into delusions of the mind ss having an
effect upon business capacity, even though
those delusions might bear a religious
hame.
He also declared that IL would be main
tained and proved that Mrs. Eddy Ia the
victim of general insanity. and that this
condition has been induced. step by step.
through deusons Of various sorts
Judge Aldrich said that it was not the
province Of the masters 20 60 into Mrs.
Eddys religion or to investigate Christian
Science.
christian Science is not a religion"
said Howe.
"Who has the right TO say that" asked
Judge Aldrich They have churches and
hold religious services with many attend
ants"
Their text book shows in itself that it
is not a religion" said Mr.. Howe.
But many people have said the same
thing Of the Bible said Judge Aldrich.
Yes. and Mormonism 10 has been claimed,
is a religion replied Mr.. Howe. "but the
Supreme Court decided otherwise. The
same is true OF Millerism and other doc
trines.'
Judge Aldrich asked IL the masters had
any more right TO decide against Christian
Science as a religion than against Catholi-
cism or spiritualisn.
christian Science is a system Of medicine,
not a religion replied Mr. Howe. "ln
so far an Christian Science is specula-
ton, il cannot be called a delusion, but
when il ia based upon supposed facts, which
can be proved not to be facts. then IL is a
delusion. IL is our purpose to show a con-
dtion upon Mrs. Eddy's part which distorts
her every action For instance, the belief
that there is no such thing as pain is a
delusion, an insane delusion from which
the mind cannot be freed. II is concrete
instances Of this which we wish TO show
in the case Of Mrs. Eddy"
What particular elements OF the Christian
Science teaching show delusion?" asked
Judge Aldrich.
Such belief as Mrs. Eddy expressed in
1885," said Mr.. Howe, that she was mracu-
lously and suddenly cured Of an injury,
which, as a matter of fact, yielded only to
constant and long continued medical treat
ment."
Attorney Howe referred TO Mrs Eddy :
belief in malicious animal magnetism and
also discussed at 'ength the desire Of the
plaintiffs not to have the scope Of the present
inquiry limited as to time. He thought
that the entire period from 1868 should be
covered as providing progressive steps
in proving their case that Mrs. Eddy is
generally insane and has been so for a long
time
William Il. Chandler also addressed the
Court with an outline Of what the plaintiff
would prove to be Mrs. Eddy's belief in
the origin and work Of malicious animal
magnetism. This he said would be proved
by those who knew her covering the period
from 1879 to 1885, The evidence on this
subject was to come largely through dep
osition of Arthur 7. Buswell Of Barton, Vt.
Gen. Streeter, counsel for Mrs. Eddy,
stated that the understanding which Mr..
Buswell has of Mrs. Eddy's belief in M.
A. NJ" ia not the view which she enter
tains to-day, and therefore can have no
bearing upon her present mental condition.
Judge A drich decided that any evidence
tending to show that through a belief in
malicious animal magnetism Mrs. Eddy
was in any sense estranged from her son
would he competent evidence, and that
any evidence of delusions which could
be connected with any of her business
affairs would be entirely competent
Mr.. Sreeter quoted extensively from
the Brush will case in New York. where the
will Of Christian Scientist was brought
in question bv reason of the religion OF
the tsstatrix. she having willed her propert v
to the church of her faith. and the will
being allowed 10 stand. Gen Streeter
said that even though this woman la d
the "deusion," as some are disposed 10
term il, that a person could live even after
the blood had been drawn from the veins.
vet this "delusion" did not affect the validity
Of her will OF of her competency TO execute.
He said that an attempt was now being
made 10 break Mrs. Eddy's will in advance.
He argued that the only question at issue
was whether Mrs Eddy was competent TO
execute the trust deed Of March bv which
she placed all her property in the manage
ment OF others.
After a conference with the associate e
masters Judge Aldrich announced the fol-
lowing ruling concerning the scope OF tes-
timony to be admitted orally and by deposit
ton at the present hearing:
I'VE are all of the opinion that evidence
tending o show that Mrs. Eddy ia in a'lelus-
ory mental condition in respect To forces
operating upon her relatives and next
friends. and through them upon her bust
ness, il Of a character TO show mental i'm
pairment and TO influence her in business
affairs il admissible. This is limited 10
alleged daIrsions which reasonably con-
meet themselves with Mrs. Eddys mental