New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-11
MRS. GILBERT breaches
PROTESTANT IN GOTHAM.
Earnest Congregation at First Hear
ing of Neac Christian Science.

Mrs Stella NJ Gilbert the protestant prophet Of
Christian Science lifted up her voice yesterday;
the voice 81 one crying in a wilderness OF Hotel
Gotham gilt and plaster Some seventy-five men
and women heard her gladly. and constituted very
encouraging congregation for the FIRST meeting OF
the New Christian Science Church.
Yet they had that look of being oddly mis-
cellaneous which is characteristic OF juries and
OF gatherings Of religious disciples. There were
patriarchal boards and white matches that hung
down over venerable shoulders; smart toilettes of
old lilac and Spanish wine color: spectacles with
rims OF gold or horn. and spectacles with no rims
al all There sedate ladies with surpass-
ingly correct features and costumes beyond re-
proach. and animated ladies with black shawls
and double wells. And beyond within, subtle.
haunting the very air and at times trifie over
towering there was the feeling that Boston was
not far of. that Copley Square might lie in front
Of the hotel-and Copley Square on a Sunday
afternoon. at that
short man seated himself at the piano half
an hour after the time the meeting was 20 begin.
Somebody in the audience cleared his throat with
a premonitory sound and the silence deepened for
fifteen seconds. Then the short man began TO
play Medessohn's Spring Song" and presently
Mrs. Gilbert and her second reader, Conrad Mill
ken. walked TO the platform When Mendelssohns
spring had been prolonged well on toward the
Fourth Of July Mrs. Gilbert rose and announced
abe opening hymn The hymns were printed on
leaflets bearing a typographical revision OF the
first announcement that IL was the First Service
Excepting the musicians, hardly member Of the
congregation had present the III fated meet
ing for which the leaflets had been made ready
They scrutnized the leader closely she made her
announcement She tall and rather graceful. IN
a gown of white lace. Her most striking character
sstic was that TO Judge by eyes she would seem
20 have been crying fer several days and nights.
and that in her deliberate and rather pleasant voice
there always suggestion that the weeping
might be resumed instantly.
g ssa
conducted rather moderate meeting She INDUCED
3n highly embroidered rhetoric at the expense
OF the regular Christian Scientists. but the service
she used line line the orthodox ceremony OF
the sect. saving only that the name OF Mrs Eddy
was not cried out at The two places in the ritual
where Il IS supposed 10 be a young woman sang
a solo where the anthem might have gone. and
tall young man played the Meditation in 'ThaTs'
on the violin while the collection being taken.
Mrs Gilbert announced that meetings would be
held every Sunday in the Gotham ballroom at 3 80
O'clock and that within a few weeks there would
be a midweek service which all Corners might
ask questions. This is the cardinal point in Mrs
Gilbers doctrine-that full publicity should be given
TO the secrets" OF Christian Science healing She
intends 10 give free teaching in all the healing
methods Of the She was disappointed she said
rather wistfuly when the meeting was over, that
she had not had more hearers. buJ them the meet
ing has not been widely advertised"
This movement is in no sense antagonistic to
Christian Science" she said in making her an
noUncement We are for Christian Science We
sre Christian Scientists. The inspired and immortal
truths Of Christian Science procaiming the divin-
1ty OF spiritual man and his domination over all
mortal conditions shall teach and preach to all
who viii hear" She continued:
But as Christian Scientists we are engaged in
seelllIg our house IN order We longer keep
silent Error and superstition. which have for
years haTnpereo the progress of this great work
lIlestcraIt and ldolatry. which have confused its
S1lIplo ana eternal truths, must be cast aside
1llnaIl,peieq ana uhtrammelled, We must march
onward ana upward, under the leadership Of cod
alone into the dust and coniSAct of the age-long
oaIue Tor the truth. "Ye shall know the truth
ana the truth shall make free -
This is age of material progress nnaral1a,oo
IN the history OF the world Its spiritual awaken
AhB. SO Inucn more vital 10 the happiness and
peace o. mankind shall be less wonderful Al
READY through the purple uDon The bille
dawn is softly stealing. The night is far snentc
The day Is al hand. After the strong yyind ina;
Eends the mountains after the earthouake and
me hte, mere comes that still. small voice which
Is me voice OF God-truth unadorned alone i'm
OF Mrs Stetson. who disciplined by the
central authorities in Boston. she said after the
service:
Mrs Stetson has taught a great deal She
mas Taught me how TO think and how TO pray
among other things. She is doing a great deal NJ
good IN her practice IN spite of some errors IN
her doctrine. have not studied or practised IN
Ger her since ] left the city and began my work
IN Brooklyn Mrs. Stetson, We believe set HERSELF
up as the head of the only Christian Science cburcb
In New York, and she refused 10 recognize any
other She took the position that Others vn,,s,
Independence" SP'''t VI