New-York tribune., 1909-11-05
CHURCH UPH0LDS
MRS. \. L. STETSON
SCIENCE LEADER IS
EYONERATED.
Fifteen Hundred at Meeting
Which Repudiates Boston
Charges.

The First Church Of Christ, Scientist.
sustained its leader, Mrs Augusta f.
Sietson. by a closely divided vote after
stormy session Of six consecutive
hours which ended at o'clock last
evening The majority OF the church
members supporting Mrs StetsOn say
shat the decision will not lead 10 seces-
zion or expulsion from the general body.
hat the heads of the minority refuse TO
commit themselves on that point.
Virgil .. Strickler. firss reader Of the
church. who is required by law 10 pre-
side at church meetings. had to face a
Ire Of questions as rapid and as sharp
"a Jerome's hecklers ever found for him.
lie was accused OF bias in his decisions
and Was openly invited to resign his
post Notwithstanding this the meeting
refused 10 adopt a portion of the trus-
tees report. which censured Mr. Strick-
Ter for his attitude in the controversy.
referring that part Of the report back
TO the trustees for further action.
The committee OF inquiry which has
conducted an investigation OF the charges
for which Mrs. Stetson was suspended
10y the directors Of the Mother Church.
in Boston. presented its report TO the
board Of trustees at / O'Clock. The COM
mittee included all the members OF the
board except Mr.. Strickler and Miss Ella
q. Young. the first and second readers.
The report was a long one. containing
fifty typewriter pages 1t was signed
by all the members OF the investigating
committee except Mrs. Susanne Thomas.
The church meeting was convened at
o'clock. More than fifteen hundred
members and attendants of the church
were present. filling nearly every seat
in the building. After brief religious eX-
ercises, the report OF the committee, as
approved by the trustees. was read. In
place OF the seven points made by The
directors Of the Mother Church in remov-
ing Mrs. Ste1son, twenty-eight points
were made by the report.
CHARGES TAKEN Up ONE BY ONE.
The first Of the Boston charges. that
Mrs Sfetson taught that the First
Church was the only legitimate church
in New York. was not directly denied.
though testimony was quoted showing
that there was an antagonism TO that
church among the other Christian
Science bodies Of this city
The second charge. that she was not in
accord with true Christian Science. par
iicularly in It's application 10 human
needs and conditions. was refuted by the
testimony OF witnesses. who said she had
taught then. true Christian Science. The
exact points Of doctrine or practice were
not specified in the report.
That Mrs Stetson's control over her
students was such as 10 hinder their
moral and spiritual growth was met in
the same way. witnesses declaring that
they had gained and not lost in spiritual
growth.
The charge that she obtruded herself
on the attention Of her students. turn
inr them away from the divine prin-
oiples, making herself an intermediary
in their communion with God, was not
directly dealt with.
That Mrs. Stetson practised without
the consent of those who received the
effects Of her ministrations was tacitly
admitted.
The sixth charge. that Mrs. Stetson
endeavored 20 control and injure persons
the charge which has been known as
that OF mental malpractice"-was ex-
planned by the statement that the invo-
signing persons 10 evil and misfortune.
we're addressed only 70 the impersonal
error Of persons, and not 10 the persons
themselves.
That Mrs. Stetson was not it person
u teach Christian Science. the oeventh
and last charge, was denied by the whole
tenor Of the report
Mr.. Strickler created something OF
ctr by declaring that the trustees them
selves were not well versed in Christian
Science, and therefore not qualified TO
pass upon Mrs StetsOn's case. He said
also that r.. r. Hatfield. the chairman
OF the investigating committee. had sum-
moned the witnesses whose testimony
vas taken. most Of whom were in sym
pathy with Mrs. StetsOn, and told them
that they might testify from the spirit
ual point OF view
TWO POINTS OF VIEW.
This Mr.. Strickler later explained by
saying that in Christian Science all ac-
tons might be regarded either from a
spiritual or a human point OF view, and
a. the spiritual man could know neither
sin sickness nor death. il was quite
20 deny having committed an offence OF
Which, 20 all human appearances the
person concerned had been guilty.
There was a general demand sor more
definite statements after the report had
been read. and the chairman then read
IN fun the testimony given by Miss a.
=. Ellsworth. one OF the depOsed healers
and loyal supporter Of Mrs. Stetson.
before the Boston board Of directors.
Miss Ellsworth admitted having heard
Mrs. Stetson say. addressing an absent
person at one of the so-called 'malprac-
tioe meetings:
The law Of the Truth 10 the liar is.
Thou shalt surely die Go 10 your place.
if your place is with God. 20 there. II
sour place is elsewhere. go there. IL
your place is six feet under ground, go
there"
Mrs. Ststson herself was not present
al the meeting
A member OF the church said last night
that the passage of the resolution left
conditions Jus, about as they were before
the meeting, with the addition OF the
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