New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-16
SCARE FOR SCIENTISTS
OYER CULTS NUMBERS.
Counsel for Nert Friends Says
Membership Is Only 10000.
IBy Telegraph to TIE tribune


Concord n. H, Aug 1J.-AstOnishment ex-
pressed in gasps swept through the ranks Oh the
christian Scientists in the courtroom this AFTER
,,oo,, when in response to a question by Judge
.,aricb Mr. Howe, of counsel for the heN'
friends said the Eddy cult had ABOUT MY
thousand members" General Streeter' coulisel
for Mrs Eddy, was quick to interpose the iiil'i
nation that in his deposition, taken III bos'on
last week Alfred Farlow had teS'lheu 'i"'
there are between five hundred thouSf'lu W
one million members of the ChrlsIdh
church in this country" Thereupon sign Oh
relief went round the ROOM
Then Judge Aldrich, pursuing his INQUIRY
said to MI Howe, There are between hEe nun
dred thousand and one million people 1" ~
oo,,,.,, who subscribe to this belief Now sup
nose. Mr. Howe, that in a hundred years i'o"
now, the christian Scientists in this country
should outnurnber believers in all other reiisio'
Now what would you say when the Christian
Scientists controlled the government If they
should declare that everybody but those who be-
,,o,,. with them were because of their opposite
belief insane?"
Mr. Howe responded: 81 think that In the
o,-en+ of the Christian Scientists COMMUNICATING
the members of all other churches one hundred
vaars from now they would amend the constitu-
ton"
I'm making as clear to Mr.. Howe as possible
the attitude of the masters to the enect tha'
they did not regard persons religious oehe's
as having anything To do with a person. puSi-
ness capacity unless there was clear cohlec-
ton established Judge Aldrich and also MI
Howe had something to say about prayer ana
the belief Of persons in its efficacy. Mr. Howe
held that If a man prayed for a storm and
storm came it could not be proved that the
PRAYER brought the storm. which might nave
come any way.
Incidental TO this line of discussion Judge
AI5ricb told a story from the bench He said
there was a minister down South who went 10
n certain community where there had been en
extraordinary rainfall. and the people th1Fs
asked him to pray that the rain might cease II
he had the faith he professed in the eflcacy
of prayer The minister took a look at the
weather and answered that. while he believed in
the efficacy OF prayer he did not think there was
much use in praving for clear weather as lorg
as the wind was in the east. All the Christian
Scientists and everybody else in the courtroom
laughed SIS loudly as they dared over this story.
MI Howe said this not a question or
religious belief He declared that Christian
Science In and of itself is not a religion WITHIN
the covers of Science and HEALTH 81" said Mr..
Howe, there is religion
Judge AIdrich asked Mr.. Howe who had the
right to say that Christian Science is not a
religion.
Mr. Howe said. Christian Science is not a
religion, for In the book Science and Health
there are no articles of faith
"A great many people have said that of the
Bible" said Judge Aldrich. dryly.
Judge AIdrich. on Mr.. Howe's continued con-
tcntion that Christian Science is not a religion,
read him Article D Of tho Constitution. which
guarantees every person the right to worship
God I'm his own way and without let or him
drance on the part OF any other person The
Judge said the Christian Scientists worship God
in their own church and in their own way.
Have you found any of Christian Science
figuring in a judicial dscsion?" asked Judge
Aldrch.
lone in a Pennsylvania report answered MI
Howe THAT OF Taylor against Trick. g.. Penn.
592 This ruling deals with the views entertained
by many other persons concerning the belief OF
mental and faith cures and Christian Science
all of which are Identical. 1t cites very clearly
that the question 10 the subject of mania Is
not SO much a matter of holding particular
views as Il was the effect these beliefs had on
his mental faculties. whether they so unsettled
his Judgment and -tIsurped his powers of reason
as 10 control his will and cause him to be not
of sound mind and judgment. Mrs Eddy's case
was exactly parallel"
was this Pennsylvania case one involving a
will or criminal complaint" asked Judge
Aldrich. making copious notes. 1T related TO IL
will trial" answered Mr.. Howe.
q y