The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-12-15
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE LEADER
FOUND GUILTY, EXCOMMUNICATED

BOSTON, November 19.-Excommu.
nication-a penalty rarely imposed by
the Christian Science Church-has
been pronounced against Mrs. Augusta
E. Stetson, leader of the cult in New
York and until recently one of the
most powerful leaders of the cult.
The Boston board of directors re-
presenting Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy
as the supreme governing authority,
have ordered Mrs. Stetson's name
stricken from the rolls
This sentence is the result OF the
hearing begun Monday and during
which the defendant, who was credited
with aspiring to the temporal crown
of Mrs. Eddy when the latter relin-
pushed it, humbled herself before her
judges.
LOSES SALARY AND HIGH PLACE.
The directors of the mother church
announced at 2:SO O'Clock yesterday at
ternoon their verdict, which is re-
garded as the most drastic in the his
tory of Christian Science. 1t not
only unfrocks Mrs. Stetson as pastor
emeritus, in New York, at salary Of
$4,000 a year, but casts her absolutely
out of the recognized Christian Science
fold.
The board wrote guilty after the
charges that Mrs. Stetson had worked
against the interests of her co-religion-
lists and against the interests of the
church.
The full text of the verdict, made
public by Alfred Farlow, head of the
Christian Science publicity bureau, Is
as follows:
"A complaint against Mrs. Augusta
E. Stetson of New York was filed with
the board of directors of the First
Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston
November 6, 1900. She was immedia-
tely furnished with a copy of it and
a copy of the following orders:
ut was ordered by said board that
the evidence in support or defense OF
the complaint should be presented in
the form of affidavits or documents
except that any evidence given or
statement made by the complainant or
the accused should be given or made
orally and on the presence of the di-
rectors; that the accused should have
the right to the assistance of counsel
and that the case should be heard COM
mencing November Is at o'clock a.
m.
EVIDENCE FOR THE AGAINST.
The hearing commenced at that time
and was concluded November II at 4
o'clock p. m. Mrs. Stetson was pre-
sent during the trial with her coun-
sell Hayne Davis.
THE evidence in support of the COM
plant consisted of the affidavits of
twenty-seven persons, five letters writ
ten by some of her students and ap-
proved by her. The evidence in de-
Tense of the complaint consisted of
one affidavit, two letters and Mrs.
Stetsons personal testimony and state
ments.
After considering the evidence and
Mrs. Stetson's statements to the d-
rectors, it was their unanimous con-
clusion that the charges against her
had been proved and were true. Mrs.
Stetson's name was then dropped from
the roll of membership of the church.
THE offenses proved against Mrs.
Stetson were of two kinds:
"S1. Working against the interests
of the members of this church who are
not her followers, and against the in
terests of the members of this church
who are not her followers, and against
the interests of this church
SO. Persisting in teachings and
practicings which are contrary to
Christian Science"
EXPECTED TO BE FORGIVEN
AS PART OF COMPROMISE
NEW YORK, November 19.-When
Mrs. Stetson left Boston Wednesday
evening at the close of her three-day
hearing she believed implicitly, it is
said, that her judges would pardon her
errors" and reinstate her with added
powers.
Not until the verdict was rendered