New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-16
in
Argument Over
Eddy Centenary
One Faction of the Church
Protests Failure of Five
Directors to PrOvid e
for Observance of Day
Views ON Teachings Diff er
Officers Assert Leader Was
Opposed to Such Events;
Radicals Plan Ceremony

A difference of opinion has arisen be-
tween factions of the Christian Science
Church as to whether the centenary
of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, founder of
the church, shall be observed to-day.
The more radical members of the
church, as a protest against what they
declare to be the indifference of the
five directors, who had made no pro-
vision for an official observance of the
day, have arranged ceremony sched-
uled for this afternoon at Bow, New
Hampshire, Mrs. Eddy's birthplace, at
which the Governor of the state and
several others, including leaders in the
church, will speak.
Other observances will be held
throughout the world by those of the
various churches who agree with the
radicals.
The five directors-Adam 81. Dickey,
Kansas City; William R. Rathvon.
Denver; Edward A. Merritt, Cleveland;
James A. Neale, Kansas: Annie NJ.
Knott, Detroit-have issued state
ment to justify their stand, which
reads in part:
Text of Statement
"To all Christian Scientists:
press dispatches calling the atten-
ton of Christian Scientists co a pro-
pcsed celebration of the centenary of
our leaders birthday, have furnished
the occasion for warning them to be-
ware of personal propaganda attached
to that date.
I'VE should not allow our thoughts
in relation to Mrs. Eddy to be taken
from her discovery of Christian
Science and her work as the founder
and leader thereof Speaking of person
al contagion, Mrs. Eddy has said: De
claring the truth regarding an in
dividual or leader, rendering praise
TO whom praise is due is not symp-
tom of this contagious malady, but per-
sistant pursuit of his or her person
u.s. miscellany, Page 81
Mrs. Eddy has disapproved the COM
memoration Of her birthday, in deed
or in word After cornerstones had
been laid on two anniversaries of her
birth our leader rebuked "this meaning
! less commemoration of birthdays and
added, Let US have no more Of echo
ing dreams
| therefore, we are confident that nc
word or deed which may be said o.
done for the purpose of celebrating
Mrs. Eddy's birthday would be consis
! tent with her desire or her teaching
We would urge that Christian Scien
lists give less thought to controvers,
and manifest more kindliness one tow
ard another, and above all let US striv
for more of the love whereby the sicl
are healed and the Borrowing are com
| forted.
1.-THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS"
This document has been forwarded
to all Scientists by the directors. Th'
declarations embodied in it, however
are disputed by those who indorse the
centenary celebration.
Reply to Directors
One of the leaders of the movement
in opposition to the directors has writ
ten the following reply to the directors
"The Christian Science board of di-
rectors has given opportunity to point
out some of it's, inconsistencies. Mrs
| Eddy furnished the Mother Church
shortly before her decease, for an i'm
mense public recognition of Lincoln's
birthday, at which Governor Bates's
| father was the principal speaker. Mrs
Eddy teaches that scientifically there
is no death, but there is a beautiful
memorial at Mount Auburn Cemetery
erected to her memory. Christian
Science teaches that there is no sick
ness. but l am a co-trustee of the
Benevolent Association, where over {
million dollars has been spent or mis-
spent to provide a place where person.
affected with what the world calls i'll
ness may go to recuperate.
"We spend about $4,000 a year tc
keep Mrs. Eddy's home at Chestnut
Hill open for Christian Scientists tc
visit, but we have never heard il
claimed that it perpetuates the BELLE
| in the reality of death. Mrs. Eddy
knew that the Church of Rome is funda
mentally the antithesis Of Christian
Science, but on July %, 1908, she gave
| her directors a strenuous rebuke fol-
failing to join the other Boston
churches in ringing the bells on the
occasion of Pope Leo's decease, anc
pointed out to her directors that they
had lost an opportunity to do good that
would never return and that they hac
been in stupor not to see this"
Mrs. Eddy was living in Lynn, Mass.
in 1865, when she fell on the ice and
was believed to have been fatally in
| jured. She experienced a spiritual
/ healing from the effects of the fall and
| the cure launched her on the studies
! that resulted in the founding of Chris
tian Science. Her first student came in
December, 1856, and the cult grew
rapidly. At this date, eleven yea rs
after her death and fifty-ive years
after its founding, Christian Science
claims 100000 recorded members.
Mrs. Eddy died at Chestnut Hill
Mass, on December 8, 1910. She was
eighty-nine years old.