The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-04


: York Today--lnterest in Outcome.
Boston. Mass, Nov 4.-Development'
of vital Importance to the future OF
the Christian Science church are ex-
lpected to follow the congregation
meeting OF the First church. In New
York. today. called to take action in
regard to the open revolt organized by
Mrs. Augusta Stetson against Mrs.
Eddy and her personal followers.
Though they profess to view the sit
uation without the slightest alarm, the
officials OF the First Christian Science
church of Boston, generally referred TO
as the Mother church, are nevertheless
awaiting the news from New York
with keen interest They no longer
attempt to conceal the fact that for
months they have known every detail
OF what Is alleged TO be an elaborate
conspiracy TO place Mrs. Stetson on
the throne OF leadership as soon as
Mrs. Eddy passed away. Three months
ago the campaign was quietly but for
cibly opened, when Mrs. Stetson was
summoned to Boston before the direc-
tors of the mother church to answer
charges that her teachings were un-
sound. AS an outcome OF their inves-
LEGATIONS the directors unanimously
decided to depose Mrs. Stetson from
her leadership of the cult in New York,
though permitting her to retain her
full church membership.
Subsequent developments, however,
tended to show that to strip Mrs Stet-
son of her authority and influence was
easier said than done. The unanimity
with which her New York followers
rallied to her support gave further ev-
idence of fact that has long been
generally recognized, namely that
with the exception of Mrs. Eddy her
self no woman in the church has ever
attained the power and control which
Mrs. Stetson today possesses.
Mrs. Stetson is said to possess all
the requisites of a born leader. She
was originally a Boston woman,
daughter of Peabody Simmons, an ar
chitect. After her marriage she trav-
eled abroad. and for her own pleasure !
she frequently lectured and wrote up
on scientific topics. In 1882 she be-
came interested in the Christian Sci
ence faith studied for two years un-
der Mrs. Eddy's personal supervision
here. and later became a recognized |
teacher of the faith.
When she first began teaching in |
New York she had a congregation of IA |
persons. In a short time after her ar
rival the following of Christian Scien-
lists in New York had grown to $50. a
large hall had been acquired for the
and the faith was spreading
rapidly. AS a financier she is said TO
have proven a wonder, even to her
closest friends. Within a short time
she has purchased and paid for
church for her followers i'm New York,
md IL years after she set out from
Boston as an humble teacher she had I.
Ter plans complete for purchasing
lite and erecting the $2,000.0OO edifice
which now stands in Central Park Z
vest
But her aggressiveness and her
orce. it is said. were not altogether to
he liking of Mrs. Eddy and those in +;
ontrol of the Mother church Rumors I
( difference arose from time to time |
nd were promptly denied. Then came
he open revolt and the attempt to de-
ose her from her leadership, which
1ade further denials of the existing
rouble no longer possible.
What will Mrs. Stetson do now? is
he big question in Christian Science
lrcles. 1t is known that she has ac-
large wealth: that powerful
lfluences are under her control and
hat nothing but death will force her
} relinquish her ambition to seize the
cepter from the hand of Mrs. Eddy.
The directors of the Mother church
ssert that should Mrs. Stetson sue
eed in carrying through her revolt. 1t
ould not go to the extent OF creating
schism in the church. They point
ut that the First church in New York
only one of 1900 Christian Science
1urches throughout the country. and
lat should Mrs. Stetson carry her re-
DIT to the extent of cutting off all re-
tions with the Moher church IL would
ave no appreciable effect on the re-
gion as whole.