Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-19
Wholly Excemmunicated From
Christian Science Church.
LOSES SALARY AND PLACE
Persisted in Contrary Practices and
Worked Against Cults Interests.
Thought Mrs. Eddy's Letter Justi-
fed Belief That Errors Were
to Be Pardoned.

BOSTON, November 19.-Excommunica-
tion-a penalty rarely imposed by the
Christian Science Church-has been pro-
nounced 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, repre-
senting Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy as the
supreme governing authority. have or
dered Mrs. Stetson's name stricken from
the rolls.
This sentence is the result Of the hear
ing begun Monday and during which the
defendant, who was credited with aspir-
ing to the temporal crown OF Mrs. Eddy
when the latter relinquished 1t. humbled
herself before her judges.
Loses Salary and High Place.
The directors OF the mother church an
nounced at 2:30 o'clock yesterday after
noon their verdict. which is regarded as
the most drastic in the history Of Chris
tan Science. 1t not only unfrocks Mrs.
Stetson as pastor emeritus of the First
Church Of Christ, Scientist, in New York,
at a salary Of 5000 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.
lie by Alfred Farlow, head Of the Chris
tian Science publicity bureau. IL as fol-
lows:
"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
O. 1909 She was Immediately furnished
| with a copy of 1t and a copy of the fol-
| lowing orders:
1T was ordered by said board that the
| evidence in support or defense Of the
complaint should be presented in the form
OF aff1davits or documents. except that
any evidence given or statement made by
| the complainant or the accused should
be given or made orally and In the pres
ence of the directors; that the accused
should have the right to the assistance
of counsel and that the case should be
heard commencing November 10 at 9
! o'clock am.
Evidence for and Against.
THE hearing commenced at that time
and was concluded November IL at 4
O'Clock pm. Mrs Stetson was present
during the trial with her counsel, Hayne
| Davis
THE evidence In support Of the COM
plant consisted of the affidavits of TWEEN
ty-seven persons, five letters written by
Mrs Stetson to her students and COM
posite letter written by some of her stu
| dents and approved by her. The evil
dence in defense Of the complaint con-
| sisted Of one afldavit two letters and
Mrs. Stetson's personal testimony and
statements.
| After considering the evidence and
Mrs. Stetson's statements to the direc-
| tors 1t was their unanimous conclusion
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. Stet-
son were Of two kinds:
81. Working against the interests of
| the members of this church who are
not her followers, and against the in
| terests OF this church.
| "2. Persisting in teachings and prac-
ticings which are contrary to Christian
Science"