The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-05
By
FORMERMEMBER
Christian Science Congrega-
tion Gets Shock in
New York.
c u R Ed BY CELL
Man Serves Six Months Sentence for
Letting Child Die and
Scores Eddy Cult.

New York. Sept. 4.-(SpeciaL)- Ola
renee A Byrne. just released from
Blackwell's island after having served
thirty days sentence Of the Court of
Special Sessions for having allowed his
six year old daughter to die without
medical attention. arose at a testimo-
NAL meeting in the First Church OF
Christ. Scientist, tonight and repudiated
the faith of Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy.
Byrne said that while he was suffer
ing punishment for the faith that he
had held the members of the First
church had disowned him and denied
that he was a member of their creed.
The followers of Mrs. Eddy's faith had
strayed too far from the path OF the
true faith to have his further loyalty,
said the man from prison.
After the meeting was over and the
surprised members of the church were
gathering their wits in whispered con-
sultation outside the church doors,
Byrne declared to reporters that love
of gold and display and aristocratic
discrimination by the people who wor-
ship in the new and costly Ninety
sixth street church have blinded their
eyes to the real truth OF the doctrine
that Mrs. Eddy expounds.
DenunciatiOn StartIes Worshippers.
The denuneiatfon of the Blackwell's
island prisoner came without warning.
When a reporter asked usher If a
Mr.. Byrne was to speak the usher had
said that nobody in the congregation
knew him. The church was crowded
almost to its full capacity with con-
gregation from the Fifth avenue and
Central part district. The man in the
shoddy clothes who slipped into a seat
in the middle Of the church attracted
the notice only Of the nearby worship
pers.
Edwin r. Hatfield, the reader. after
directing the singing of several hymns
and reading passages from Mrs. Eddy's
book and the Old Testament, announced
that the time for the giving Of testi-
mony had arrived. Byrne was the first
to rise.
This is the last time that will
speak In a Christian Science church, .
he began in voice that didn't carry
across the church, II have just come
from serving thirty days sentence on
Blackwells island for violation of the
penal code My daughter died under
the treatment of Healer Roberts Of the
Fifth church, and I was arrested be-
cause 1 had no death certificate.
Says He Was Repudfated.
II bear malice against none obey
the Lords injunction to love ones
neighbor as ones self The reason
why I cannot longer worship in this
Echurch is that while I was bearing my
cross on Blackwell's island this con-
gregation, through one OF its represen-
tatives, publicly repudiated me as not
of the faith and cast me out When ]
needed comfort was passed by on the
other side, as the priests and the Levite
of the parable passed by the wounded
man.
Il have been a Christian Scientist
for twelve years. My wife and three
children of ten that 1 had born to me
died under Christian Science admins
trations, and still I remained true tt
the faith Yet at the hour of my great
need there was no one to bring ms
comfort"
There was a restless stir among
those who heard the man.
Byrne finished, and others got up t
speak as If nothing had happened.