Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-29
Says She Does Not Aspire to
Leadership in Christian Sci
ence Organization.
SOME ARE SKEPTICAL
Hold That It Is a Move in a
Campaign for the Overthrow
of the Board Of Direct

New York Dec. 2s.--MenIhers Of the
Christian Science Church have read with
mlncled feelings the first explicit state
mont by Mrs. Augusta f. Stetson. form
erly leader OF the First Church of Christ,
Scientist. since her accommodation.
The statement was made public yester-
day apparently at the desire Of Mrs.
Stetson Though some OF the members
professed TO regard II as Of no iinpor-
tance as regards the future or Christian
Science, Others saw In the publication of
the sstatemen; move In the campaign
which. they say Mrs. Stetson is wag.ng
for the overthrow OF the authority of tho
uoard of directors Of the so-called Mother
Church in Boston and the establishing OF
herself as the successor Of Mrs. Eddy.
Since the recent death of Mrs. Eddy
the friends and followers of Mrs. Stetson
have neld that the Christian Science
Church is virtually without spiritual
headshlp. Mrs Eddy, as they say, never
having intended that the board of drec-
tors should exercise permanent authority
In things spiritual The written works
Of Mrs. Eddy furnish abundant texts
from which they deduce that the board
of directors. having served the purpose
for y ioh it was formed, should now dis
solve and make way for ''love, truth and
divine light. as radated by those who
have become spiritually fit" Mrs Stet-
SO Las never made secret of her con-
| tontion that she is "spiritually fittest' OF
| al Those who profess belief in Christian
Science. Her follower enthusiastically ac-
claim her as such.
DISAVOWS ANY AMBITION.
on the other hand Mrs. Stetson dis
| avows any intent or ambition to become
| head of the church.
None of my students and close
friends she said in her statement, "ever
heard me say that | aim at leadership
| in the Christian Science organization, be-
cause | have never said 1t, nor do | now
aspire to such position. I aim only to
be worthy representative and practical
demonstrator of the teachings Of Chris
tian Science, as discovered and founded
by our revered leader, Mary Baker
Eddy.
II know of no efforts being made to re-
organize the Christian Science Church. |
cannot be responsible for the words. opin-
ions and desires Of many in this city
and elsewhere VINO have become my
would-be defenders and friends, but |
|
that / am engaging in any effort to inter-
fere with the Christian Science organiza-
zion or with the directors OF the Mother
Church. | stand for Loyal allegiance to
my forever leader, Mary Baker Eddy. and
her teachings. ! stand for unfaltering
faith in my God-given ability TO interpret
and demonstrate. step by step In the line
of spiritual embodiment, the truth of
lou, C,ia
right, which God grants and defends"
HER EYE ON THE LEADERSHIP.
The friends of the board of director Of
the Mother Church asserted yesterday
that the new statement Is in line with a
series OF letters which Mrs Stetson re-
ceived from her pupils and followers
then collected and forwarded to Mrs
Eddy by way Of demonstrating the hold
which she, Mrs. Stetson. had upon hcI
following Mrs. Eddy sent them to the
publications committee and they were pub.
lished In the Christian Science Sentine
July 81. 1869.
Side by side with these implicit asser
tons Of an almost divine character Mrs
Stetsou's critics yesterday placed pas
sages from her most recent statement anc
argued that she still had her eye on III,
supreme position IN the Christian Scierc,
body. IN one OF these passages she said
There Is no evidence az yet that tn.
directors are the demonstrators of tn,
teachings Of science and health or tha
their Judgment of divine metaphysics o,
Christian Science is infallihle, They hav.
UP to this time been good business mel
who have conducted the temporal aftar.
of the material Organ!2at tiOn I'm n thor