The New York herald., 1922-10-23
'Inestimable Privilege He
Says, Discussing Member
ship in Braeburn Club.
IDEALS OF THE HIGHEST
Husband of Former Mrs. Mills
Dcnounces InsinuatiOns Of
the Ignorant
speeial cabls o TnE sew Yosk HEn.Lr.

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD. =
Copyright, 1922 Jy THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, Oct. 22.
Admitting that he had first met his
wife. Margaret Rutherfurd Mills, for
merly the wife of Ogden L. Mills and
daughter of Mrs. William X. Wander
'bilt, at Pierre Bernards Braeburn
Club in Nyack. where both We're deeply
interested in the work, Sir Paul Dukes
at the Vanderbilt mansion here to-
day vigorously defended the colony, as
well as its founder. who has been
called the "Omnipotent Oom.'
Lady Dukes was a member OF the
club before Sir Paul joined it. The
club employed no servants and the
members did all the cooking and bed
making. Adverse criticism OF the club,
Sir Paul said, came mostly from men,
bers, Of New York society who never
visited there. He said he considered
membership in the club an inestimabe
privilege.
"Braeburn Club Sir Paul continued
''is now Incorporated as the Clarkstown
Country Club and is being run on the
same basis as any other country club.
offering facilities for sports. entertain
ments. reading and study. II it has any
peculiar characteristic 1t is that for the
most part its members are interested in
something more than ordinary sports
many being students OF religion. and
philosophy of various kinds. The
atmosphere Is more serious and devo-
tional than that in any institution with
which I have ever come in contact. The
club also is very democratic and has
members hailng from many countriea
Taught sound Living.
With the idea of eliminating all. even
superficial. distinction of class or station
the practice was once adopted of giving
mitted. but this has now been discon-
tinued owing to the foolish misconcep-
tion of outslcers.'
One of the features that appealed espe-
cially to him. he declared. was the
emphasis placed on athletics and the
maintenance of good health AS re-
CARDS the philosophy taught there. Sir
Paul said that moro attention was given
to ancient Oriental schools than to any
other because IL was believed by most
of the members. including Sir Paul. that
the most profound truths ever presented
TO the world are In the Sanrkrit vedas.
"The hostility manifested in some
quarters against Pierre Bernard and the
founders of the club" Sir Paul went
on, lis based entirely upon jealousy and
ignora nee have heard IL said of mem
bers that they must oe deplorably naive
that they have fallen victims 10 some
hypnotic influence or that the essence OF
the teaching is preserved for some
secret inner circles from which they are
excluded.
1T is not unnatural that gossip re-
peatedy refuted falls back as last re-
sort to some such folly as this. For my
part am satisfied that there is no such
inner circle and that there is no mys-
terry whatsoever in this club ! am not
a person likely TO he fooled. as anybody
knowing me or my record will concede
outlook Is Unbiased.
"The philosophy Of tho Braeburn Cluo
possibly attracts only people OF certain
temperaments totally unbiased in their
outlook on life. But their ideals GER
tainIy arc of tire highest and the in
situations which are idly banded from
mouth to mouth by i'll wishers are moth
ing but ignorant gossip"
Both Sir Paul and Lady Dukes insist
that Bernard Is a very learned man and
a member of many International So
cieties. which have completely cleared
I, ,f,,, nf Qn oh n