The Washington times., 1909-11-14
PRACTICES OF MRS. STETSON
BRING ON WAR WITHIN RANKS OF SECT

malicious form Of hypnot;sm ultimates
in moral idiocy."
As I passed from one to another Of
them, particularly as ] stood IN the
aisle of their church and watched that
great gathering OF the Well-to-dO and
intelligent pass out, / came to see that
there is in very fact Christian Science
countenance. I would never have be-
lieved It; it may be you viii not; but
il is true. The muscles Of the face are
relaxed as yours and mine may not be-
Their. eyes are softer. as of those who
wear glasses and have taken them of
for a moment There is a radiation Of
quiet happiness that has its effect on
your heart and helps you understand
how a people in such an attitude can be
content to hear the word, no matter
who reads 1t and to rejoice IN it. no
matter with what suffering it comes
The prayer meeting of last Wednes-
day was, I am told, not a representa-
tive gathering of this congregation.
Hearts were troubled over the pending
issues; he who read the service was
under charges Of unworthiness, and the
affection which outpours from these
people to Mrs. Stetson was hurt and
fearful Yet I think that service was
in many ways the most remarkable
gathering OF worshipers I have ever
attended
First Church. New York, seats 1900
persons. The only other hall in which
have attended prayer meeting recent
ly was a small lecture room in Yatseka,
H.. where twenty women a man and a
boy we're the congregation. Here In
New York the ushers reported at the
close Of the service PSI seats vacan.
out Of the entire seating capacity and
the church was filled and quiet before
the organ began the frst strain of Par
sifal." 4 would be hard 70 find people
better dressed and oue could not md
people more devout.
Afr. Strlckler took his station 10 con-
duct the service It was my first visw
OF MIN and / am afraid I introduced a
dissOnant thought when / finally realiz-
ed why his face seemed so familiar. He
/ lOOks-n one CO say it ia charity-like
Mr. DSvenportby cartoons of the Sugar
trust He announced a hymn. Men and
women all around me, young business
men and women Of undoubted social
position, sang with a volume that made
the tears start. The reading of the
scripture and Science and Health fol-
lowed. AMI that was the first time I
heard the formula From Science and
Mary Baker Eddy" Mr.. Strickler then
announced a silent prayer TO be fol-
lowed BY the Lords Prayer. I did not
look to see If other heads were vowed
and other eyes closed and IN the min
ute or two Of tremuloLs silence / was
quite transported TO another church
and af4Other service. Suddenly
Our FATHER-who are in HEAVEN
-haliowed be THY NAMEt"
When the japanese commercial COM
mtssioners were in Washington I heard
them pour out all the pent-up home
sickness Of a three-mOnth absence
from Japan in three eager cries of
"Banzai!' I have been in an emergency
hospital where an old man. his brow
frosted and his face lined with goodness
and purity, turned on the operating
table, opened his eyes slowly, and said
Doctor, know I'm going 10 die. And
I'm going to hell" 7 stood on the crest
Of a low and wooded hill IN the course
Of the war with Spain while 5000 Of
my fellow Americans strOde over it to-
ward their cOuntry's enemies A band
struck up Glory, Glory, Halleujai" and
with the general commanding the divi-
sion I stood beside that line while those
boys trOoped along and sang, the tears
streaming unchecked down their faces
and ours. But I have never known an
experience so searching Of the soul as
the resounding OF that prayer from
those ZOO hearts. II that faith shall
drive this congregation TO an issue with
any Of the temporal bodies of this new
religion there can never be compromise.