New-York tribune., 1910-12-26
MRS. STETSON IS READY
Continued from flrst page.


continued.
rnfz came In the form of quotation
frcn, Mrs. Eddy's book. MISCELLANEOUS
writings" In which she wrotf- wa
terfaI organization Is requisite IN the oe-
vtnntnT. hut when it has done its Work
~. n,,relyr Chrisfly method Of teaching
and preaching nust be adopted ana III
other books OF her writing the same sen
t;rnent was found repeated many tunes.
Mrs Stetson's claim that the Boston
board of directors was not quai1heo 10
spiritually interpret Mrs Eddy's "ofh
was first advanced at the time OF her
trial, before that board last year. SPEAK
ing then Of their understanding OF the
laws Of Christian Science. she wrote;
"only the works will prove whether
IL is I or the directors Of the Mother
Church who understand this law suf11-
GENTLY to demonstrate it. There IS no
evIaAnee az vet that the directors are
the demonstrators of the teachings OF
Science and Health or that their 1uds-
rnent is infalIible. They have up TO this
time been good business men, who have
conducted the temporal affairs or the
mate, al organization in a Thoroughly
satisfactory manner. Now they are
called upon to show their understanding
of divine meta physics.
Not Hostile to Trustees.
The woman who built up the First
Church in New York, and who was prac.
tically Mrs. Eddys first ernissary to
IA u-r0fa l2cr
year, that the directors are not qual1ned
to be the supreme ecclesiastical power
Of Mrs Eddy's Church but she also
holds lust as firmly TO the detern1na-
ton to let them work out their own
problem without hostility from her
As student of Mrs. Eddy for more
than twenty-five years, and as one who
was for a long time almost a. personal
and daily attendant at her shrine, Mrs
Stetson believes she herself is better
oaIified to interpret the writings of Mrs
Eddy from the spiritual standpoint than
any other Christian Scientist, but she
is known to have repeated. even since
Mrs. Eddy's death left the spiritual head
ship of the Church in measure va
cant, her former statement that she
would not turn her hand in the way OF
furthering any personal ambition look
irg toward that leadership.
More than that, she expressed TO her
closest friends her belief that the direc-
tors-bound as they were by many of
the bylaws and by the deed of trust
conveying the property of the Mother
Church in Boston to await the writ
ten consent of Mary Baker Eddy, the
Pastor Emeritus and by a clincher by
law which forbade selections to fill va
cancies in their board or any attempt
TO amend the bylaws without the writ
ten consent of Mary Baker Eddy"
would not be able to conduct the ma
terial and temporal affairs of the Church
with the success which attended their
efforts when supported by Mrs. Eddy
herself.
She consistently refused however, to
take any part in any movement looking
toward dispute of their authority. and in
the present instance. it was understood
that the people behind the prospective
fight on Mrs. Eddy's win requested her
to ally herself with them but she again
refused.
Eugene r. Cox. chairman of the Pub
lication Committee for New York. said
yesterday that he did not believe any
legal battle on Mrs. Eddy's will would
ever be brought to court.
---- No News as to the Will.
Mr.. Cox said that officially he had re-
,ceived no word from Boston, indicating
that such action was contemplated.
Il believe that the best legal talent was
employed in the drafting of the WILL
said Mr.. Cox last night, and it was
counsel, and so far as the Church is
concerned, if the entire will should fail,
if none of the money should go to the
Church, it would not affect it in the
slightest.
The whole genius of Christian Science
is for individual Improvement, each one
solving his own problems. Mrs. Eddy
has always taught this, and as Scientists
follow that teaching they lay less stress
on church organization than other de-
nominations
THE organization as devised is simple
yet effective, and though there were re-
strictions of authority retained by Mrs.
Eddy. yet there are no actual linlita-
tions on the operations of Church activi-
ties, and the directors are in no sense
hampered in their work under the man
ual as it now stands. The fundamental
law of the Church is opposed TO personal
INTERPRETATION or direction by any teacher
of a student, by any practitioner of
patient Science and Health is the foun-
dation. is complete in itself, and does not
need any Interpretation.
From a personal acquaintance with
the directors. know them to be not only
good business men. with broad expert
ence in larger affairs of life, but each and
every one of them is a nnetaphysician OF
high order, having had the benefit OF
close association for years with Mrs
Eddy, imbibing her ideas and methods.
Neither do ! see any difficulty in the
operation of the bylaws with reference to
the appointment to fill vacancies in the
board. The manual provides that the |
board shall fill vacancies occurring. with !
the approval of the pastor emeritus.
There now being no pastor emeritus. |
we'll known Interpretation of the law
would hold the clause calling for ap-
proval to be imperative, and therefore |
and in my opinion other |