New-York tribune., 1909-11-09
FEAR MRS. STETSON
MAY BE EXPELLED
FRIENDS SEE H4RM
IN SETTLEMENT.
Mother Church Nay Consider
1t Defance-Strickler Did
Not Start Inquiry.

Mrs. Stetson's statement and rer -
sition in view OF that statement was the
sole topic Of discussion with Christian
Scientists here yesterday. That IL had
brought her no nearer 70 a reconcilia-
tion with the authorities of the cult was
the tacit admission OF even her friends.
From Official sources on the Boston
side OF the argument came word that
the authorities Of the Mother Church
did not look upon her long statement as
the proper kind Of an acknowledgements
Of her guilt In fact. they say that ths
statement emphaticaIly denies the truth
of the previous statement Of Virgil o.
Strickler. the first reader OF the First
Church of New York. which statement
was taken verbatim from the records
upon which the Boston directors based
their order OF suspension for Mrs Stet-
son.
Denying this. as she did in her state-
ment. they say constitutes in itself de-
fance Of the Mother church authorities.
despite any mere statement she may
give out announcing her loyalty. The
sword OF communication. say those OF
the congregation who are arrayed
against what they call 'Stetsonism' in
the local church. is dangling more dam
gerously over Mrs. Stetson's head than
il was before
COX REPLIES To MRS. STETSON.
Eugene r. Cox the head Of the pub
licatiOn committee OF the New York
State district. and probably the most di-
c~f - h.
OF directors in this section. issued a
brief statement in reply 20 Mrs. Stet-
sons statement - SunCay night. as fol-
/ lows:
While the mental practice described
/ by Mrs. Stetson in this mornings papers
/ is not the practice of Christian Science.
il is 10 be observed that there is a wide
\ difference between her practice as de-
I sCribed by herself and as described BY
I her students. Even her most partisan
\ students admitted at the recent inquiry
/ at Boston that she was in the habit OF
I making mental and audible attacks upon
/ persons in the nature OF tmprecatiOns
[ and curses.
| The distinction which she attempts To-
/ make in favor of mental practice. which
she claims is legitimate. as self defence.
| is unknown 10 Christian Science. a
/ Christian Scientist defends himself from
/ all forms Of evil by keeping his own
l cOnsCI IOusneSs free from 10. and not by
hurting thoughts at a supposed enemy
Mr.. Cox declared that the general feel
ing among church members that the
proceedings against Mrs Stetson in
Boston were instituted by Mr.. Strickler
was wrong.
For a long time" he d. different
people have left the church, and have
given their reasons some publicity. so
that the air has been hlled with rumors
Of incorrect teaching and practice in
that church"
Last winter four practitioners and an
usher. all of whom had been IN the
inner circle OF the social StetsOn ring
in the church. departed in a body. and
later they conferred with two other
practitioners who had left the church
previously. Charles J. Strobei and
George William otis. two of the four
practitioners. came out yesterday with
definite declarations in which they ac-
cepted the responsibility for the starting
OF the investigation OF Mrs Stetson 3
teaching and methods which resulted In
her suspension for three years
MADE CHARGES IN BOSTON.
Besides these two. Mrs. Mary o. New
ell Mrs. Martha O. Dickinson. practi-
TONERS. and ". F. Newell. an usher.
made up the fve rebels who resigned
their membership last December. Later.
with Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Chartres. two
former. practitioners who had previously
I resigned. they discussed what they called
..Stetsonism" in the church here. and
finally went in a body 10 Boston. where
they appeared before the board Of di-
reotors and made specii and definite
charges. following the reception Of which
the board instituted it's inquiry which
resulted in Mrs Stetson's suspension
StrobeI and Otis described yesterday
their actions in connection with ths
stetson affair
We objected 10 Mrs. Stetson's mall
rractice." they said. and II wasn't
mental seIf-defence. either. We Objoct-
ed further 70 the monthly statemenc
which she required from all her stu
/ dents who were practitioners. and We
objected TO Mrs. Stetson's teaching that
she was the only avenue for true hghr
in Christian Science
After satisfying themselves that Mrs.
sretson was in the wrong. and after
reading the editorials written by Archi-
tsId Mcclellan. in The Christian Sci
snce Sentinel" which pOintedly referred
10 Mrs. Stetson's conduct. they decided
N withdraw from the First Church.
TREATING FOR" MRS. STETSON.
The last thing we heard as We left
the church for the last time. just as the
whistles we're blowing in the new year"
said Otis. was Mrs. Remer. addressing
the Stetson class. IN the absence cf that
lady herself. and making strong plea
that the class should treat for gold for
Mrs. StetsOn.
In explanation otis said thar the
treatment was designed 70 bring gold
into the Golfers Of the tetchers. The
students would concentrate their minds
on the fact that Mrs. Stetson must have
more money. as fees from students. as
fees from patients. OF in any other way
that occurred 40 them. and the result
was supposed 20 be that more and richer
patients would appear for Mrs, Stetson'z
treatment
otis corrOboTated the testimony previ-
ously given that Mrs, Stetson had prac-
tised mental assassination" and had In
structed her students 70 DO likewise
against Archibald Mcclellan and ths