Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
FEARED MRS. STETSON
Followers Version of Her Ex.
puIsi0n From Church.
WAS GETTING TOO STRONG
Boston People Afraid of Her, De-
clares New York Scientist.
SERIOUS SPLIT IS LOOKED FOR
Drastic Measures Said to Be Taken
by Church Officials to Hush
Discussion Of Affair.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, October o-It was the be-
lief in we'll Informed circles OF the Chris
tan Science cult I'm this city that the
deposition OF Mrs. Augusta Stetson and
the revocation Of her license to teach and
practice Christian Science in this city
would lead to serious discord In the First
Church Of Christ, Christian Scientist.
here.
Drastic measures are being taken by
the officials of the New York church to
hush discussion Of Mrs. Stetson's removal.
No statement of any kind could be OBJ
tanned today from Mrs. Stetson.
THE trouble with Mrs. Augusta Stet-
son." said Mrs. Della Gilbert tonight. IN
discussing the deposition. Of the former
head OF the local First Christ Science
Church. lis that she is too strong wom-
an. Those people in Boston are afraid
OF her. The situation which exists in
regard to her is similar to situations that
often existed in the days OF the Roman
empire: the strong head must be cut OF.
Augusta Stetson is the woman who made
Christian Science what II is. Mrs. Eddy
didn't do 1t. To be sure she gave the
cult the Christian Science book. but she
did not make Christian Science what II is
today. Augusta Stetson has worked un-
ceasingy for twenty years to advance the
faith, and now that she has become 80
powerful, those people In Boston dare not
let her retain her leadership any longer.
Her Teachings "Too Radical"
"Of course 1t is true continued Mrs.
Gilbert. that Mrs. Stetson's teachings
were radical. That is the cause of the
trouble. 1 was a member of the First
Church for five years and l understand
perfectly what her views are. Her doc
trine concerning marriage is certainly too
radical She would have US DO away
with marriage and put an end TO child
bearing. Such a doctrine leads to free
love. l do not see how we can cut out
marriage. We simply must marry. Never
theless. although they charge that Mrs.
Stetson's teachings lead to immortality.
that is not the real reason why she was
deposed. She was too strong for them
and that is all there is to it,
The charge that Mrs. Stetson's doctrines
tend to immortality is only one of the
counts against her. 1t is charged that
she has taught her disciples that the First
Church of New York Is the only leg1ti-
mate Christian Science church; that she
has instructed her followers enormously
In regard to the application of Christian
Science to human needs and conditions:
that her control over her students tends
to hinder their spiritual and moral
growth; that she has sought to center at
tention upon herself rather than upon the
divine principles: that she violates Sci
ence rules for healing by treating persons
without their consent; that she attempts
to control and injure people by mental
means and that she has strayed SO far
from the right way as not to be fit for
the work Of teaching Christian Science.
Individual Headships Not Wanted.
The charge that Mrs. Stetson hindered
the moral and spiritual growth OF her
followers was explained today by Eugene
r. Cox, head Of the publication commit
tee Of the church in this city. as mean
ing that Mrs. Stetson had kept herself
too much before her pupils. and had
thereby inculcated false principles.
1T has come to q point" said Mr.. Cox.
where Mrs. Stetson's teachings are sub
versive Of Christian Science and tend to
break down the broad democracy OF the
church.
Individual headships are not wanted,
and the idea Of individual government II
fostered under the leadership OF a su-
preme head
This statement although followed by
the remark that 1.-THE action Of the Bos-
ton authorities in no way grew out OF
the fear that Mrs. Stetson was getting
too big and powerful in the church In
New York." seems to lend color to the
charge made by Mrs. Gilbert to tho ct
feet that Mrs. Stetson's strength was the
sole cause of her deposition.