New-York tribune., 1909-10-10
HEALERS DISCIPLINED
SCIENCE HOUSECLEANING
Mother Church .AdmOnishes Sirteen
of Mrs. StetSOn's FOUOTerS.

Sixteen practitioners in the First Church Of
Christ. Scientist in this city now occupy position
similar 10 that forced upon their leader. Mrs Au-
gusta e Stetson, week before last, and the re-
suit OF their refusal 20 practising they may
be expelled from the Christian Science Church. II
this should happen as is now indicated, Mrs Stet-
Will probably have her day Of triumph. and the
FIRST Church viii become independent organlZa-
ton.
Nearly all the practitioners concerned in the new
action by the mother church in Boston declared
yesterday their intention 10 continue with their
work exactly in the past This. according to
Eugene r. Cox. chairman Of the bureau Of publica-
tion OF the Christian Science Church in New York.
will bring down upon them the final wrath OF the
board of trustees which controls all Christian Sci
ence churches from Mrs. Eddy's church in Boston.
The present movement is a houseeleaning' and II
is made clear that the First Church trustees
viii come I'm for their share OF disaPpnovaL These
men who govern the New York church refused
yesterday divuge their attitude. one Of the
practitioners under she declared that the trus-
tees standing back the practitioners in their
determination TO yield TO the action OF ther
rulers in the Hub.
Mr. Cox gave out this statement yesterday:
The action of the board of directors Of the First
Church of Christ. Scientist OF Boston. Mass, S ~,
:aThe Christian science Journal" was based upon upon
the testimony Of the t%entEhNe SelTTg e TerenIiy
examined by this board. The following nane99
PeTsoTs Pos5 FTor9 AZ the afouTnal: Miss sarah
It,peTsv 1noe MIS- Ms N Auc1Ista Aiknan Miss Mar
Biome Hayne Davis. Harry E. Fink and steuart
sddton the above named p persons fSs 1os T6s
Rowbothan. Miss Ida Pope. Miss Mary f. Pear
Miss Jessie 7. Cotton, Miss sibyl Huse and Arthur
overbury.
ADMoNIrIoN PRECEDES DISCIPLINE.
The reason for sdmonishing these sixteen per
sons VAS that their testimony showed that they
~ % nS5 atene6f ereof n m efbook
and Health. with Key 10 the Scriptures Inc py-
he given before discipline can ensue The re-
oEa Of & cards from b t r:bdT se m 4o foWs the
eailed irregular or ignorant practice,
Before the mother church expels any from
membership as was done, for example, in the case
of Mrs D NJ. Gilbert. Il is required by the by
laws first 10 send an admontion, which Is sup
posed 10 give the individual under suspicion an
opportunity TO mend the error Of his ways The
removal of practitioners card from the Jour
nal" monthly publication. means that this prac-
fitioner is discredited by the mother church and
should cease practising
Asked whether Cne could practise without a card
in the journal" MI Cox said that 1t was often
done but such practitioners had difficulty in getting
Christian Scientists 10 90 10 them. There Is no
such thing. he said. a license 10 practise.
OF the eight practitioners mentioned in the sec
ond list of those who merely had been adrnoh-
ished only two-Nrs. Amelia S Rowbotham and
Arthur e Overbury-hsve cards in the Journal"
IAN the persona affected by the admontiOn from
Boston." said Mr. Cox, occupied Offices in the
First Church. There Is a general housecleanlng
going on there, and all the practitioners in the
church, former students OF Mrs. Stetson have
been reached by the present action, but Mrs Stet-
son is the only who has been disciplined by
the revocation Of her license 10 teach"
The position Of the board Of trustees has been
Of strict silence, toward Mr.. Cox. the rep
resentative Of the mother church in this city Mr.
Cox said that he had received information from
the board as to its attitude either toward the
mother church or toward the discredited practi-
tioners. Many Christian Scientists have raised the
question whether the New York board has not laid
itself open to rebuke and condemnation from the
Boston church for maintaining attitude Of out
ward indifference and secrecy.
TRUSTEES RETICENr
Edwin F. Hatfield. chairman Of the board OF
trustees, said last night that he could not discuss
the predicament Of the sixteen practitioners Virgil
O. stricker, first reader of the church, held he
same opinion regarding his position. Mr.. Hat
field admitted that any statement TO come from the
trustees would be made by himself their rep
resentatve.
'Win the trustees make any statement in the
near future?' asked.
They have yet held a meeting" said Mr
Hatfield He declined say whether meeting
would be held TO discuss the practitioners case.
The attitude Of the trustees has evidently been
made clearer to Arnold Blome of those whose
cards removed from the Journal"
The trustees backing up" said Mr.
out CT the Church and ! intend to continue my
work exactly as before. Our board of trustees
controls this church in New York, and 1 believe
they will always control it"
when asked what meant by the charge
made against Mrs. Stetson and the other prac.l-
tioners by the BostOEians. that they working
10 injure others morally and mentally. Mr Blome
said he did understand what IL could signify
in the present connection. unless II the en-
ployment OF malicious animal ma gnetisrn.'' or
,rdiayOOlism',-an evil motive. But he said no such
charge could be proved against Mrs Stetson and
her followers.
Hayne Davis. of No. 3S1 Central Park West an
other healer under the Boston ban said he had
intended 20 do Miss Jessie T Cotton in the
same apartment house, whose name was included
among those admonished denied that she had been
edmonshed and said she intended 10 keep on with
her work
Mr.. Cox also made public Yesterday COPY Of
q bylaw which has been sent out 20 Christian
Scientists This law makes even stronger the
ground Of disapproval on the part Of the Boston
church toward the rival church OF Mrs stetson
II is as follows;
Article XXIIT.-Recognition- Section r. In order
Journal" churches societies are required 10
acknowledge as such all other Christian Science
churches and societies advertised in said Journal
and 10 maintain toward them attitude of Chris
tian fellowship
WOMEN TEACHERS TO BRING ACTION