The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-12
DRIVEN BY FEAR
She Whales GAS
Miss stephens. Christian Science Lead.
er, Dreading Animal Magnetism,
Kills Herself.

NEW YORK Special.-victim of a
nervous breakdown. due to her fear OF
mancious animal magnetism and a
conilcung sense or her duty to the
,alth OF Christian Science and her
love FOR Mrs. Augusta Stetson thaoNr
Z communicated leader OF that cult MSs-
marion stephens, herself one OF tie
most successful OF the healers OF the
cnurch' committed suicide Saturday
night by inhaling gas.
Before ending her life. the trouble6
disciple had said: IT knew that thel
church Is right, but feel that for me.
at lsast, Augusta stands In the place
81 Ut Shrist. L cannot meet God except
can L desert her.
That Miss Stephens's suicide Ma
1U,rVught about by the exercise OF NH,
iicIous animal magnetism is fhe
Sheory advanced by some of her
friends to account for her death she
mao conhded to them that some nvs-
ferrous evil influence seemed to be as
serted against her mentality and she
49, eu she might not be able to OPP
save her life ~
II was in the apartments of her sis
ter Mrs. Eva Weeks, 526 West One
Nun no req and Eleventh Street, that
MISS stephens committed suicide. hers
being the third self-infiicted death
among Christian Scientists to have
taken place within the last few weeks.
mat the act was due to a great dis
tresS or mind was admitted Yesterday
Dy those most intimate with her. Said
one Oh those, one whose name may not
oe USED Three days ago Marion
came 10 me and said: L cannot stand
inns awful strain much longer. A. ia
with me day and night. love the
church, but there is an influence over
EN- that l cannot break"
although exceedingly nervous and
liIuch depressed, Miss Stephens was
she had been for the last few months
When her sister, Mrs. Weeks. left her
saturday evening. Returning to their
q apartnent later Mrs. Weeks and her
husband were almost smothered bv
gas. On the floor of the bath-room
with rubber tube leading from the
gas Jet in her mouth, they found the
oouy OF the suicide. Under her head
was a pillow.
DR.. Fassett, who lives a few doors
away, applied usual restOratives. but
20 no avail He reported the case to
me Coroner's office. Coroner's Physi-
lated and issued a certificates Of daath
oy Illuminating gas poisoning with sui
:idal intent The body was taken AWAY
Ior shipment to Towanda, Pa, where
nterment will be made.
This was the home town Of Mics
stephens, and where nearly fifteen
ears ago she had taken up the Chris
ian Science teachings. subsequently
me came TO this city and later became
| warm friend OF Mrs. Stetson and ono
II her staunchest adherents. Then
anne the rupture with Mrs Eddy.
Mss stephens was then living with
ars, Stetson. and directly became
,really troubled by the fact that there
lad come a division between Mrs.
'tetson and the church.
ASKED Advice of Mrs. Eddy.
what seemed TO trouble her most
vas that her own loyalty must neces-
no
lister and TO her intimate friends she
'as OFTEN heard TO bewail the fact
nat she could get no guidance. In
er distress Miss Stephens turned to
ITS. Eudy, wrote that she had Quit
90 the home OF Mrs. Stetson and
sked advice
Mrs. Eddy's reply. under date NJ
'ecember IL, 1909, was as follows:
nay Dear Student.-Your favor OF
ne 10th instant is at hand. God is
ooVe your teacher, your healer or
ny earthly friend. Follow the direcr -
ons of God as simplifed in Chris -
an science, and though IL be throus m
eserts. He will direct you into the N
aths of peace. y
do not presume to give you per-
,naI instruction as TO your relations
ith other students. All say Is stat
in Christian Science, to be used &c
model. Please find it there. and do
,nflict.
i nave not seen Mrs. Stetson for
yer year, and have not written to
Pr since August 3, 1909.
MARY BAKER EDDY"
Friends and relatives aver that Miss
ephens began to show signs of worry
ter the receipt of this letter. She
as on the verge of a breakdown when
embers of the family sent her to 5
mira 10 her sister. There she seem
TO regain health, and a few weeks =
20 she returned to this city and re-
med her work as a healer. But in
e old environment her mental trou-
es came back.