Evening star., 1921-10-02
Religious Notice

Religious Notice ~
There can be but one conclusion for all
thinkers in this age, viz: people must be
allowed freedom of thought, the privilege OF
Judging and deciding for Themselves OH any
statement. Particularly should Christian
Scientists be granted this privilege in deciding
Q question of such vital interest to them as a
knowledge Of both sides Of this controversy.
The conspiracy against the books las been
reported from librarians in various parts OF
the country and from Christian Scientists here
and abroad. These methods appear to US to
be dishonorsble ecclesiastical maneuvering.
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 IN
Christian Science, it was entirely natural. thai
Mrs. Stetson's deep religious convictions
could not be shaken. It was likewise ;nevi-
table that 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 eiung
to her advanced knowledge Of absolute Chris
tian Science or demonstrable Truth, according
to the teachings Of Mrs. Eddy, that her name
was dropped from. the list Of church member
ship Of the Boston Church togethet with six.
teen of her most progressive metaphysical
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. dimerrion" of divine meta
physics. But in the asperity OF her antag-
onists Mrs. Stetson knew no enlightenment,
and her unflinching adherence to what she
believed and had demonstrated for SO many
years more than. equaled the calamity, since
she scientifically understood that eventually
Truth would vindicate her. :. :
It 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 ana
practices in First Church of Christ, Scientist.
New York City: The trustees and members OF
her, and eight of the nine trustees have con-
tinued with her, together with hundreds OF her
students, who have not been dropped from
membership in The Mother Church or from
First Church of Christ. Scientist, New York
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. Stetson.
TIE following resolution was passed by the
~former trustees of First Church of Christ:
Scientist, New York City, on the occasion OF
its: s:acceptance of Mrs. Stetson's resignation, or
Nov "a, 1909:
Resolved, That we accept with unfeigned
regret, and only at her urgent request, the
resignation Of Mrs. Augusta E. Stetson.
esd, as member of this board OF trustees
,,"In her Official relations, Mrs. Stetson has
given us service for nearly a quarter Of a cen.
tury in the effort to further the Cause OF
Christian Science in this community. Who
k,,ox of he
movement, in the period covered by these
years, is aware that, so far as TINS bfahcn
church is concerned, she has been beyond All
comparison the foremost contributor to the
and that the cardinal pre:ept of her teaching
and example has always been, as it is now, that
of answering loyalty to our beloved Leader,
Mary Baker Eddy, and to her teachings
"Both from the standpoint of material.
achievement, as well as from that of spiritual
attainment, she has left the evidence of her
untiring devotion in the structure which
adherents which. assemblies here regularly for
worship, and above all in the spiritual growth
of the 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 has
DONE. we are grateful in that we. have been
permitted to share the work with her as CO.
laborers and we desire to record our recogni-
ton of the great spiritual blessings which
have come to US in our official association
with her"
{signed) EDWIN F. HATFIELD, Chairman.
JOHN D. HIGGINS, Clerk.
Instead of losing prestige through the re-
markable action Of the Boston tribunal in
dropping her name from the roll Of member
ship of the material organization, which was
an inevitable result. of. her spiritual advance
ment, Mrs. Stetson made many converts to
genuine Christian. Science. These have con-
tinued with her and are constantly increasing
in number. In other words, there are thou
sands throughout the field Of Christian Science
who protest against. the action of the board
of dire:tors as tending to rob the individual!
of his inalienable right of liberty Of con,
science. We might ask here, was this official
conduct Of the board based upon Justice and
governed by love: To US it seems the reverse
Of Christian Science. whicn declares for the
reality of good and the unreality of evil. As
we understand it, truth and love are the argu-
ments used by Christian Scientists in the de-
struction. Of evil Would the. continued at
tempt to hold any one in error, by united effort
directed to person, be scientific Christian
Science treatment, or would it be termed,
in Christian Science, mental malpractice:
If it is the latter Mrs. Stetson's under
standing of spiritual mental. defense against
malpractice has been demonstrated before the
world. Some years ago Dr. Parkhurst recon-
mendCd to the press that the directors should
heal Mrs. Stetson by the application of love.
which is claimed by Christian Scientists to be
the corrective for sin and disease This plan
has evidently not been adopted by her oppres-
sors. However, she seems to have stood the
test of her faith and understanding, and we