New-York tribune., 1909-10-20
STETSON INQUIRY ON
STILL AFTER READER.
MAY Be Further Discipline IN Store
for Deposed Healer.

IN their first formal statement since the Drasen,
,-,tstion in regard 10 Church matters became p,
uo the board az trustees of the First Church -.
Christ Scientist S6th street and Central Park
West reviewed yesterday the status Of the .ass
cs Mrs Augusta z. Ststson 10 date and let 81 he
known that committee Of inquiry. delegated hv
she hoard. is holding daily sessions regarding the
rastters st issue
The purpose 81 this inquiry. given in The state
r,sut issued by r. F Hatfield as chairman of
che committee lis TO arrive at inst iudgr,e,,
without respect of persons. end without fear or
favor regarding the matters a; issue in so far as
they fsn within the jurisdiction ef this branch Of
fhe Mother Church, and the committee states Arst
thsi IL is enoesvoring 10 refrain from trespassfng
on tho jurisdiction and rights of the directors Of
ths Mother Church
Inquiries rs 10 the exact functions of this COM
rnittee of inquiry brought forth only the decara-
ton from Chairman Hatfield that not ono word
mcre than tho written statement would he made
public now. and that even the length ~ time
which might he consumed by the inquiry vas~en-
firsiv prohleustical.
The inquiry hy the directors Of the Mother Church
N Boston is mentioned FIRST in the statement. and
= Is declared that the board of trustees Of tho
First church hero instituted the local inquiry on
receipt n informal communications from the
Mother Church. Al the beginning of the inquiry
here the statement saws. the two readers Of the
church Uere present. but withdrew when the pro-
priety n their presence was questioned and Mrs
herself from that meeting.
IN the absence of Mrs. Stetson the legality of
no proceedings was Questioned and the board
'hereupon appointed the special committee Of in
oUiry.
Constitutional questions in The Christian Science
organization and prominent members of the
church are involved in the inquiry but the state
ment declares that there cannot be any conflict Of
jurisdictions as between the directors OF the
Mother ChunCh end the trustees Of the branch
church, or First Church. Of New York.
Chairman Hatfield was asked whether the eE-
istenoe OF committee Of inquiry here. which was
considering the same matter, namely. the depos-
ton of Mrs Stetson. was not in itself conflict
of authority jurisdiction. but he replied only
that in his judgment il could not be SO construed.
on this point Eugene r. Cox. of the Christian
Science publication committee for New York state.
pointed out that the deposing of Mrs. Stetson
healer and practitioner was in the nature Of dis
cipne from the Mother Church whereas this local
committee might after its inquiry further dis
cpne her locally by cancelling her membership
rights in the organization of the First Church here.
Mrs Stetson's friends declared yesterday that
The only points upon which her discipline by tbs
Mother Church bssed those for which she
had fun authority the teachings OF Mrs.
E6dy. Those OF her friends who favor strong
measures suggested that some form OF protest be
made against her suspension as a healer because
her teachings were so based upon Mrs. Eddy's As
10 the accusations concerning Mrs Stetson's teach
ing Of demonology. her friends said that tie
founder OF the Scientist Church. in her early works.
devoted space 10 that subject-the power Of mind
10 produce death well life.
Until the final announcement OF the COMMITTEES
81 inquiry. il is said there will be official
from either Mrs Stetson, the suspended healer
her friends. and the Boston authorities are en-
deavoring 10 treat The entire matter a closed
incident