The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-08-25
BY Marlen Il. Pew


BOSTON, Mass, Aug. 25. =
When Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy dies
what then?
For the first time this question,
much discussed outside of Chris
tian Science circles, has been au-
thoritatively answered from with
in.
In a special interview with the
writer at the Christian Science
reading rooms, Boylston and
Berkeley streets, Alfred Farlow,
for 20 years Mrs. Eddy's personal
friend and now of the chief ex-
ecutives of the church, made the
following statements:
st is not pleasant to discuss
the possibility of the loss of
friends through death. This is a
matter of which we all try not to
think, and 1t is we'll, for we know
that the thought is antagonistic
to life and health.
For such reasons Christian Sci
entists, particularly Mrs. Eddy's
close associates, have been loath
to discuss the future of the church
in the event of such a great mis-
fortune as her demise. AS a result
of this silence, In the face of much
outside discussion of the subject,
a number of false and absurd i'm
pressions have gained credence
among people unfamiliar with the
meaning of the Science movement.
Will Announce Her Death
"Should Mrs. Eddy be taken
from life, the unfortunate event
will be- Immediately announced
through the public press. The idea
that her death would be unan-
nounced is about on a par with the
reports, that have been circulated
In the past that she was already
dead. If there was any reason for
keeping her death a secret, that
would be impossible.
eve hope that our beloved
leader has many years of life be-
fore her, and there seems to be
no reason to fear the contrary. She
has lived actively and is still ex-
tremely active in her work. But
today, in her 8Sth year, she arose
at 6 a. m, as she does daily and
on every day of the week, and has
gone through the regular routine
at her desk. in her library, in con-
sultation with her advisers, and
she has driven out for refresh
ment. Mrs. Eddy is delicate
woman. and quite naturally, and so
long as l have known her she has
never been robust. She is re-
however. for her age"
docs she still wear glasses?"
Eyes, and she has worn them
for many years. However, l have
seen her read fine print without
their use. l recall one time of
her an article, printed in
nonpareil type. which referred to
the fact that she wore glasses. She
took off her glasses and read the
article without difficulty"
what does Mrs. Eddy read?"
"She reads the bible, 'Sciencel
and HEALTH the Christian Sciencel
Journal, and a variety of books
and papers.
May Overcome Death
"You have probably heard
continued Farlow, "the oft-repeat-l
ed assertion that according to Mrs.
Eddy's teaching she can never
die, and IL she did pass from lifel
1t would prove the fallacy of her
teachings. This is a great mis-
take. We do believe that underI
proper conditions one might attain
a Christian and mental Develop
ment by which death would be
overcome. That, however, is farl
in the future-it may be centuries
hence.
while Mrs. Eddy's science has
preserved her remarkably, it is not
to be expected that she will be able
to escape death"
The writer suggested that, ac-
cording to the faith. Mrs. Eddy'sl
death might be influenced orl
caused by her many years of con-
tact with the world, her environ
ment still being mortal. according
to Fhrlow. He assented to this
idea. but did not amplify the sue-l