The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-17
BY Marlen Il. Pew.


ever may come of the sensational
Christian Science war that Mrs.
Augusta e. Stetson stirred up in
this city. certain it is that she is a
remarkable woman.
After a secret conference of 20
hours. lasting until last evening,
with the board of directors of the
First Church of Christ, Scientist,
Mrs. Stetson gave out statement
in which she says that she bows
to the Mother church. 1t is doubt
ed today, however, that this will
put an end to the war started by
Mrs. Stetson.
Her enemies say that she has
aspired to follow or perhaps super
sede Mary Baker Eddy as the head
of the church, that she has for
years been playing sharp politics
to that end. 1t is charged she
holds a spell over members of the
great $1,200,000 marble sanctuary
on Central park, many of her per-
sonal followers being absolutely
servile in their devotion to her.
There are a score of millionaires
among this number, men of large
affairs, bankers, brokers, publish
ers, merchants and professional
men. Has Mrs. Stetson hypnotized
these men? Her opponents say that
is the source of her power.
Who is Mrs. Stetson?
She is a woman of SO years, who
looks Is years younger. She was
born in Maine and married the sol
of a ship builder. Her husband
died in the madhouse, nearly 25
years ago. She became a pupil of
Mrs. Eddy. After five years she
came to New York to teach and
heal. She organized a church with
IA charter members. The number
grew to 70, and presently to $50.
In exactly 10 years the church
of IA member had become rich
enuogh to build an edifice at a
cost of $1OS,O0O.
Four years ago Mrs. Stetson's
followers erected the present beau
tiful church at cost of $1,000
600. This remarkable woman
raised this enormous sum herself.
She induced one man to give
100000, and John d. Higgins,
a merchant, gave her 100000
check. The woman made hysteri-
cal pleas for money from the pulpit
and one afternoon drew 100000
from the purses of her devoted
followers.
Such has been Mrs. Stetson s
rise to power She lives in a gor-
geously appointed house adjoining
the church. This was built for her
by her followers at a cost of $780,
600. The furnishings are exqui-
site; wonderful tapestries, a solid
gilt piano, furniture upholstered
in gold brocade and magnificent
paintings.
Mrs. Stetson has an eye for the
picturesque. Until Mrs. Eddy made
things hot for her she would
sweep into her church of a Sun
day morning dressed in white
satin with Irish point lace, dia-
monds glittering, mountainous
white hat with blue ostrich plumes
topping her attire. She occupied
special pew in the church, after
she had been deposed as first
reader, and her particular delight
seemed to be to wear summer
clothes in dead winter-perhaps to
prove her theory that she will live
forever, or that nothing can harm
her physical well-being.
Mrs. Stetson's power over men
was demonstrated when the church
was building and some of the
workmen had threatened to rtrike.
You would not stop work on a
house of Cod" said she, and so
eloquent was her plea that the
workmen conceded the disputed
point and resumed their work.
But IL her power over men was
great, Mrs. Stetson's influence
over women was greater. Mrs,
Maude Nissan Babcock, former
woman of wealth, now a depart
ment store clerk, accuses Mrs. Stet-
son of stripping her of her money,
and even of her mothers diamond
Jewels, to make her spirit contrite
to her teachings.