New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-10-02
Religious Notice.

There be but one conclusion for all
thinkers IN this age, viS: people must ba
allowed freedom OF thought, the privilege Of
Judging and deciding for themselves on any
statement Particularly should Christian
Scientists be granted this privilege in decid;ns
question OF such vital interest to them as
knowledge Of both sides of this CONTROVERSY
The conspiracy against the books has been
reported from librarians in various parts OF
the country and from Christian Scientists here
and abroad These methods appear to US TO
De dlsnonorable ecclesiastical manpUvering,
and are condemned by all honest and Just
people. Owing to many years of association
with Mrs. Eddy and her writings. together
with preaching, teaching, and healing n
Christian Science, it was entirely natural that
Mrs. Stetsons deep religious convictions
could not be shaken. 1t was likewise new
table that a woman of her spiritual attain
ments should have the courage to defend her
faith and understanding. According TO our
deductions. it was because Mrs Stetson clung
10 her advanced knowledge of absolute CHRIS
tan Science demonstrable Truth according
to the teachings of Mrs. Eddy. that her nams
was dropped from the list of church member
ship of the Boston Church together with SIX
teen CT her most progressive metaphysical
practitioners.
In carefully reading Mrs. Stetson's books.
there seems to be- on the part of those who
contended against her method of applying and
demonstrating Christian Science. an utter in
ability to understand her advanced apprehen-
sion OF the fourth Immersion Of divine meta
physics. But in the asperity of her antag-
onists Mrs. Stetson knew enlightenment.
and her unt1inchIng adherence to what She
believed and Rad demonstrated for many
years more than equaled the calamity, sincs
she scientifically understood that eventually
Truth would vindicate her.
1t was the consensus of the worlds opinion,
at the time, that grievous mistakes were made,
not only in the methods used by The Mother
Church authorities. but also in the conclusions
reached By them regarding the teachings and
practices III First Church Of Christ. Scientist.
New York City. The trustees and members Of
her church in New York officially exonerated
her. and eight of the nine trustees have
tinued with her, together with hundreds of her
students. who have not been dropped frora
membership IN L hc Mother Church or FROM.
First Church Of Christ, Scientist, New Yor>
City, though still entertaining the saBle POS
ton as to the spiritual facts Of being for which
Mrs. Stetson was dropped. These also con-
tinue to attend the church services. Doubt
less these, her trustees. would not submit,
without recourse to the law, to the persecution
which has been inflicted upon Mrs. Setson.
TIE following resolution vas passed by tie
former trustees of First Church of Christ,
Scientist, New York City. on the occasion of
its acceptance of Mrs. Stetsons resignation. on
Nov. 81, 1909:
Resolved That we accept with unfeigned
regret, and only at her urgent request, tne
resignation of Mrs. Augusta +. Stetson,
esd, as a member Of this board Of trustees.
'Tn her offi,ial relations, Mrs stetson has
given US service for nearly quarter Of cen
fury in the effort to further the Cause O.
Christian Science IN this community Who
ever knows anything of the progress Of the
movement, in the period covered by these
years. is aware chat so far as this branca
church IS concerned she has been beyond all
comparison the foremost contributor TO the
abors required for the results accomplished.
and that the cardinal prscept of her teaching
and example has always been. as it is now. that
of answering loyalty to beloved Ieadc-,
Mary Baker Eddy, and to her teachings
Both from the standpoint Of material
achievement, as wei, as from that Of spiritual
a.tanment she has left TIE evidence of hcr
untirine devotion il the structure which
houses this congregation. in the large body Of
adhererts which assemblies mere regularly Tor
worship and above all in the spiritual growth
Of TIE membership Of this church. But for
the inspiration Of her faith and the stimulus
OF her high and earnest purpose, none Of these
results would have been attained in any such
measure. For ourselves, therefore, as trus-
tees, we rejoice in the work which she fa'
done. we grateful IN that We have been
permitted TO share the work with her as CO.
lahore, ~, and desire to record our reccgni-
ton OF the great spiritual blessings WCi-E
have TO in our official ASSOCIATION
with her
(Signcd) EDWIN f. HATFIELD. Chairman.
JOHN D. HIGGINS, Clerl..
Instead OF losing prestige through the
markable ACTON Of the Boston tribunal in
dropping her name from tae roll II member