The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-20
LIGHT ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

TIME RECENT attacks by the New
York World upon Mrs. Eddy, the
founder of Christian Science. and
the alleged history of her life as pub
iished IN MeClures Magazine, have
brought out many protests from tho
press of both America and England
These protests clearly show that these
attacks upon Christian Science are moi
favorably received by the press or pun
lie and while meeting with the cohoeih'
nation they deserve have subserVeo the
purpose of awakening public interest IN
this rapidly growing religious poay ana
created a demand for the truth concern
ing it. 1t will be remembered that the As
ISOLATED Press, the Publishers Press, all
the large newspapers of New YORK ana
Boston sent representatives to Concord,
N H to investigate ehe charges made
by the World. These twenty or more
men and women made a thorough inves-
tigation and were also given an inter
view with Mrs. Eddy at her home, Pleas
ant View. Among these newspaper rep
resentatives was Sibyl Wilbur O'Brien,
newspaper representative of high stand
ing who has contributed two excellent ar
ticles of her experience to the December
and January numbers of Human Life,
edited by Alfred Henry Lewis. She
writes: II have seen Mrs. Eddy four
times within the past two years, always
In Pleasant View as her guest. l have
been in most all the rooms of Pleasant
View from the kitchen to the drawing
rooms and the chambers and offices, even
Mrs. Eddys own sleeping room. There is
no mystery about that house. 1t is as
open as the leaves of book; but only
1t is not open to the rude and vulgar as
is village tavern Sibyl o. Brien writes
most Interestingly of her four interviews
with Mrs Eddy, giving also her own
opinions and reflections Her insight ana
appreciative vision being the most inter
estng from the fact that she is not a
Christian Scientist, but a Catholic. Every
charge made was proved TO be raise. she
quotes; 1T lookes to me as though the
New York World has made a fool OF
itself" said a prominent New York jour
nalist, A. j. Vivien of the New York
Times sent to Concord to be present at
the interview granted by Mrs. Eddy.
1.-The charges are eXtravagant and I'M
warranted" said Will Irwin, managing
editor of McClure's, who was also on the
spot directing his forces in gathering
story similar in intent namely the in
vestigation of loopholes in the Christian
Science faith.
The following is quoted from an article
by the well known English writer, John
Strange Winter CIrs. Stannard), in The
Lady of Fashion. regarding the recent
attack upon Mrs. Eddy. She says:
1.-The indeceneies of journalism have,
think. impressed me more during the
course of my life than perhaps anything
else has ever done. There are times
when one feels proud of ones press.
when one feels that it is an organization
on which we may justly pride ourselves.
But there are other times when 7 am
bound to admit and confess that its in
decencies turn ones very soul sick.
'At the present time I am feeling this
more strongly than usual, for during
the last few days there have been col
umns of sensational writing in the papers
dealing with the purely private and per
sonal life of very great woman,
speak of Mrs Eddy, the founder and or
yranizer of Christian Science, a woman
fshom everybody may well acknowledge
3 one of the public benefactors of the
ord whether her teaching is accepted
- every detail or not That Mrs. Eddy
- an exceptionally gifted woman of the
,lurest life and the noblest instincts,
think there will not be found one right
thinking person in this whole world to
deny. A woman who has brought the con-
ISOLATION of a simple. clear. and singularly
pure idea of religion to many thousands
of men and women surely might be re-
garded as one somewhat set apart from
the curse of vulgar curiosity GIer
life has, been characterized by dignity
purity and EXTREMIST refinement of feel
Ing. That such a woman. whose whole
life has proved her to be deeply religious
in the truest sense of the words. could
turn from her habitual ways of thought
is manifestly absurd"
The able and fearless editor of The
Arena. Mr.. r. J. Flower, has dealt eX-
haustivey with this subject in an article
published in the January number of his
magazine entitled
"The Recent Reckless and irresponsible
Attacks on Christian Science and It's