The Paducah evening sun., 1910-08-27
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

The following is a reply to the
strictures of Christian Science by Mr..
Hagaman at the Auditorium:
Editor of The Sun:-Mrs. Eddy
the discoverer and founder of Chris
tian Science was never spiritual
ist' either before or after she wrote
Science and eHalth. II any OF your
citizens desire TO read an impartial
life OF Mrs. Eddy. by one who Is not
Christian Scientist. but con-
scientious woman, Il can be had by
calling at the Paducah library.
There have been a great many cruel
and slanderous things said and writ
ten OF Mrs. Eddy with a view OF dis
crediting Christian Science. and there
are so-called biographies written
with thes anne purpose In view. but
the life Of Mrs. Eddy by wilbur" Is
an interesting and fairly good ac-
count of her life. Few public char
acters have received such spontane-
Gus and unqualified testimony OF es-
teen as was given Mrs. Eddy. a few
years ago. through the press Of the
country, by prominent citizens of
Concord. n. H.. where her family
have lived for generations and where
she Is well known. None OF these
people were Christian Scientists. but
they published an indignant protest
against such persistent. cruel and
slanderous persecution of a lady
whom they knew and held in high es-
teen. She following letter requires
no explanation, viz:
"Boscawen. y. H.. Aug. 4. 1902.
In speaking a word about my ac-
quaintance with Mrs. Mary Baker
Eddy. | would Ike first TO say | am
not a Christian Scientist. but an old
fashioned Orthodox congregational
list. My father, the Rev. Enoch Cour-
ser. was from 1897 to 1S43 pastor OF
the church of that denomination in
Mortified and Tilton (then Sanborn-
ton Bridge). n. H., with which the
Baker family was connected.
''As Mrs. Eddy's pastor--and for a
time teacher-my father held her In
the highest esteem; In fact he con-
sidered her. even at an early age. su-
perior both intellectually and spirit
ually, TO any other woman In Tileon,
and greatly enjoyed talking with her
II was in 1887 when. II | remember
rightly, Mrs. Eddy was about fifteen.
that / first knew her. she being sew
eral years younger than myself. I
well remember her gift OF expression
which was very marked. as girls OF
that time were not usually possessed
OF 20 large a vocabulary. She and my
father used TO converse on deep sub
jects-freequently (as recall "a
mind. from remarks made by my
father too deep for me.
she was always pure and good, o.
my father as her pastor could not
have received her into his church
and communion. II he were living
today | am sure his recommend
tion of her would be unqualified. She
stands out in my mind distinctly as
his brightest pupil. and | also remem
ber her great admiration for him.
have never heard spiTitualism men
toned in connection with her or her
family. The Bakers were superior
people. well to do and well educated.
The fact that Mrs. Eddy's brother
Albert was nominated TO congress By
the largest majority ever registered
in the state, dying, however, before
the election, shows the estimation In
which he was held by the community.
A younger brother was skilled
musician. and led the church choir
Quorum pars fui) at the Bridge for
La number of years. Her sister
Martha was teacher for a time in
the academy at SanborntOn Square.
OF which Prof. Dyer II. Sanborn, au-
thor OF the grammar. was then prin-
clpal
/ never heard or knew anything
about Mrs. Eddy In her youth In re-
gard 70 her relations with her family
or the community. which would give
any foundation for the derogatory
stories now in circulation. purporting
to deal with the time In life when !
knew her best. They seem 10 have
been invented OF late years, since
those who could bear testimony to
the actual facts have become few In
number. II has occurred to me that
Jealousy of her remarkable success
may have given rise to the Invention
of these preposterous stories.
"The fact is. during my residence
OF some years, previous to the fall Of
lisa. I'm or near the present town Of
lTilton. I never heard a lisp against
the good name of Miss Baker. but al
ways praise for her superior abilities
and scholarship. her depth and inde-
pendence OF thought, and not least
spiritual al-mindedness all prophetic
OF her future eminence when once
her true life's mission should be re-
vealed 10 her by that Providence
that shapes our ends, rough-hew
them how we wiz"
(signed) s. B. G COURsER
When the above letter was written
Mr.. Courser. a well-to-do farmer,
was living at his home In Boscawen