Evening Star Newspaper, February 27, 1921, Page 36

. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D, C, FEBRUARY - ADVERTISEMENT. ADVERTISEMENT. A RM Y AN D N AVY N E Vv S ! A Reprinted from “The Evening Mail,” Mew York, February 18, 1921 BY CAPT. ARTHUR G. DUNCAN. ‘I MRS STETSUN ExpuUan P e e T - - *————_T {On Retired List of Navy ;:':gl:mi:_ude:; funcsca and wu:: t}:‘erI: 2 L] | THE ARMY 2 : After a Brlliant Career f,‘,,‘,':,%rfif“';2‘;?"{‘,“%‘;“1§Em°;“i§’:2§ Soe HE national defense act, as amended by the act of June 4, 1920, places upon the depart- ment a mandate to organize the Army of the United States. whieh is to be composed of the Regular Army, the National Guard and the or- ganized reserves. This organization must be ready in time of peace for| immediate mobilization upon a dec- laration of war, and a complete ros- ter of training officers aiso must be available. Acording to the statement given the writer by Maj. Gen. W. G. Haan. G. S, d r of the plans division. careful studies have been the War Department. assisted b: ailed under the law | tional Guard de Conclusions | to make these studies. reached indicate the size nece for mot in order to ins reasonable safety to our country from ! an invasion “Without gof the size g into deota the general, definitely say that anrox 000 reserve officer: re nes present we have Some seventy sand_and numbers are grow that hoped we shall soon have the requisite number. In order th: these officers may be available imm diately unon mobilization for du S in inection with handling troops that arc called into the serv they must. in time of peace, be assigned to | specific war dutie so that it will be ; ary onlv to notify them of the mobilization date and they will t matically g0 to thei ar st | function in their duties. “One hundred thousand res i ruire a large number of re- | lacements each year in order to keep | them up to the req te strength _“One of the problems of the W Department is to secure from training camps made available by law the number of a replacemen h. it is est will amount to 10.000 a y | are developing to accomplish o It is also ne ar; keep | Jarge number of re: touch with the developments and | changes that are constantly taking | place in the means and methods of warfare. Annually a certain per- centage should be called to trai eamps for short periods of ins i tion. The law provides that reserve ; officers shall be called into active service frequently, and for this pur- pose annual appropriations will be necessary for their payment. instruc- tiom, etc., in order to carry this basic ldea into effect. “It should not be overlooked that the War Department under this law 18 mno longer maintained merely for the instruction. training and develop- ment of the Regular Army; i comes the overhead for the develop- ment of the great citizen army, which | must be buiit up from the Guard and organized reser: citizen army will form the great bulk of our defense in case of war. Therefore an officer personnel must be kept constantly in readiness, so that mobilization and training may be made with dispatch and we shall not be found unprepared when we meet the enemy. “In this connection,” said the gen- eral, “it may be interesting to re- cajl that the United Statgs declared war against Germany April 6 and} our mobilization order was drawn| to begin to take effect August 25,/ and did not, in fact, begin until about September 20—five , and one-half months after the declaration of war. That. five and a half months under the present plan ‘would be complete- 1y done away with. and that much time will be gained, if we have an efficient Officers’ Reserve Corps ready and instructed to meet any national emergency.’ MeKellar Bill Regulating Promotions. Section 24-a of the Army reorgani sation law contains the following pro- vision: “Third, captains and lieutenants of the Regular Army and Philippine Scouts, originally appointed since April 6, 1917, shall be arranged among themselves according to commissioned service rendered prior to November 11, 1913, and shall be placed at the foot of the list as prepared to this point” When the law was enacted this provision was understood by those affected to mean that the of- ficers seclected by the examining boards to be captains In the Regular Army. would be ranked among them- selves on the promotion list according to. length of service and that first lieutenants should be placed among themselves and the second lieutenants in the same manner. This under- standing, it is claimed, has turned out 10 be incorrect. In the preparation of the new promotion lists now being completed in the War Department it is sald that captains, first and sec- ond lieutenknts are placed indis- . eriminately on one list and are given @ relative rank on this list according 13 length of service and age which wil\_determine for future promotion in tAe Army. This\{nterpretation, officers say, will work ahpost inconceivable injustice to @ largd number of emergency of- ficers, who until recently have béen Is as i and | the | commission | REAR ADMIRAL HENRY T. MAYO, Who roex on the retired list tomor- row. at hix own request, after forty- cizht years and six months of active service. He performed twenty-eight years and nine monthy' xea service, rs who were found by these boards be qualifie aptain’s will officers who were fa by tenant Iy « taincy un would lose this interpre of this E ciated that 1.600 offic lieutena of n < to trds to be qualified as second licu- It is claimed t officer who ob! rd of 1.600 fil who have studi t there y la to whom this 10t come in the n result of the present appl the law will be as fc for example, commis ning of the ‘war arose to no high er - begin- utenant, either bec grade < few days a ability attained the rank, let us say major during the war. The examining boards, after careful consideration and the records of these officers, ~d A" Lo cond lieuten- B" for a « i sume that these boards is a more capable officer than ever, under nt interpre on 24-a takes precedence over on the promotion list and will be promoted to major before “B. A bill prepared by Senator McKeliar (S. 4781) corrects this injustice by in- serting in lien of the provision quoted above the following: “Third, captains and lieutenants in the Regular Army and Philippine Scouts originally ap- pointed since April 6, 1017, shall be ar- ranged among themselves in their re- spective grades, according to commis- sioned service rendered prior to Novem- ber 11, 1915, and shall be placed at the foot of the list as prepared to this point.” The words. “in their respective grades” make the correction, many offi- cers believe, that is essential to a just application of the law. Business Policy Invoked. At the request of Maj. Gen. H. L. Rogers. authority was granted by the Senate military committee for the Quartermaster Corps to contract for Coal. forage, canned goods and other essentials at a time when commercial contracts are usually made, in order to obtain minimum prices. Hereto- fore. according to the law, purchases could not be made until the beginning of the mew fiscal year. Under the present ruling coal, for example, may inot only be purchased at a considera- ble saving, but payments can be made upon delivery. During the war red tape in the purchase system caused many a low-bidding contractor to seek other than government outlet for his preduct. Particularly was this (rue in the unnecessary length of time required before payments were made and the use of specifications not in keeping with the standard commercial form. The present im- provement in the method of govern- ment purchase indicates the return to a better business policy in the pro- curement of supplies which promises a substantial saving. To Recruit Army Nurses. Facing a serious shortage of Army unable to blieve that such construc- tion law was ever contem- | plated by the War Department. Be-| sides nullifying the decisions of the| examing boards and the final board headed by Gen. Pershing, this inter- pretation makes it certain that offi- nurses due to the losse of reserve and emergency nurses leaving the corps, an appeal is being made to national nursing associations to assist in a nation-wide recruiting movement to meet. the emergency. “Aid of the Red Cross has been sought in an endeavor to If you have been looking for a way of SAVING $5, $10 OR $25 A MONTH We recommend the Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey Plan fiffi 5, You will receive the benefit of 6% interest on every dollar for every day it is saved. It will be secured by first mortgage on improved property, and receive the care and attention of a Company with a rec- ord of fifty-two years in business without loss to an investor. Send for our booklet describing System-Saving in detail, or call in and allow one of our officers to go over the plan with you. SWARTZELL, RHEEM & HENSEY CQ SEVEN TWENTY SEVEN, FIF DC SHE NATION'S HOME_TOWN Commencing March 15. perintendent of the Army Nurse Corps, states that although the campaign has hardly begun inquiries are being received as a resuit. o> < Twelve seaplanes of the Pacific fleet air force which recently made their memorable flight from San Diego, Calif., to the Canal Zone, left Balboa Wednesday for Bahia, Hon- | duras, on the first leg of the return jtrip to San Diego. The Atlantic air | force reached Great Corn Island on | its return tr | arrived at da p up the east coast and Tuxillo, Mexico, Wednes- a distance of 630 miles, from ch point it will fly due east for the naval base at Guantanamo, On the return trip the Atlantic fleet air commander had an interest- ing problem in air navigation to overcome. The trade winds at this time of the year blow with consider- able force in a southwesterly direc- tion from Cuba to Panama, therefore, upon finding it impossible for his air craft to travel on the return trip along the same routes taken in going to Panama, he evolved a plan to fly up the coast of Mexico until arriving at a point east of Cuba, and then to strike out for Guantanamo, goins in a easterly direction and then around the dangerous trades. Activities at an Diego. A huge supply and storchouse is to be erected at San Diego for the use of the destroyer fleet and the storage of miscellaneous supplies. This build- ing is in the heart of the city, but with water frontage, upon ground donated by the c it will, in addi- tion to serving as a storage house, be the headquarters of the comman- ! dant, the public works officer and the supply and accounting officers. Bids will be opened March 2 for the n- struction of the new naval training tation. The Shipping Board is turn- ing over to the Navy without cost the concrete shipyard, where the Emerg- ency, Fleet Corporation built two ship§ for the Navy. That yard will be used as a minor repair base and will have a marine railway capa- | ble of taking destroyers. Other maval activities at and near San Diego are the hospital, the coaling plant, the radio station. the marine advance base and the air station and field at North Island. MARINE CORPS | = A Packing the post gymnasium at Quantico to the doors, an audience of enlisted men Friday evening wit- hess the dedication of their new $23,000 organ which was purchased from funds earned by their post ex- change. The opening address was made by the Secretary of the Navy, followed by short talks by Gens. Lejeune and Butler, who commended the enlisted men of Quantico for this ambitious undertaking. < Keen regret is expressed by brother officers in the sudden death at Philadelphia_last week of Col. Louis John Magill, late assistant and inspector U. 8. M. C. Col. Magill was appointed naval cadet June 17, 1887, and received two brevets for gal- lantry in action during the Spanish- American war. COAST GUARD A joint resolution has been reported in Congress authorizing legal heirs to receive the accrued pay and allow- ances of certain officers who lost their lives when the coast guard cutter Tampa was destroyed in Bristol chan- nel. September 26, 1918. Coast guard colors were carried well to the front at the recent Madi- son S geare Garden dog show. Bilmer's Traveier, an eleven-month-old Airedale puppy_owned by Surgeon W. C. Bill- ings, P. H. S., won the fourth prize for American-bred. In making this win the puppy beat the novice class winner and the puppy class winner. Twenty-two of the best dogs of the country were entered in this event, and for an eleven-month puppy to win fourth place was consiglered un- usual. Bilimer, Traveler's owner, is now stationed at coast guard head- quarters. Some time ago headquarters sent a letter to each officer on the active list who now holds the permanent rank of lieutenant commander, and lieutenant commander (engineering), requesting opinion as to the advisa- bility of amending the uniform regu- lations so as to provide that visor ornaments shall not be worn on the caps of officers of this rank. From replies received, it was indicated that no change is advisable in the present provisions regulating the matter of visor ornaments, although the opinion seemed to be equally divided as to the desirability of making the change. —_— ‘The first woman in Kentucky to be- come a candidate for county office under the general suffrage law is Miss Stella May, who is seeking the re- publican nomination ‘for county clerk of Pulaski county, a position Mer fa- ther held for twelve years. TEENTH STREET/ CHRISTIAN SGIENCE VIEWS Founder of Local Church . Gives First Interview on Dissension Which Resulted in Expulsion of Twenty-six Church Members. For eleven years Mrs. Augusta E. Stetaon. founder of First Church of Christ, Sclentist, at Ninety-sizth street and Central Park West, and sent here as a pioneer, over thirty years ago, by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, has been a veritable sphinz concerning the affairs of the church. interview to break the spell. they have not revealed her position with First Church, nor of the Boston dispute. sume no responaibility for Mrs. Stetson’s The. Evening Mail is able to print the first Mrs. Stetson. recently las becn printing sermons, but regard to the break in her relations with Naturally the Editor and the writer as- religious views or other statements; they are printed to give light on recent happenings in the Christian Science Church. By CHARLES A. STARR. During the past two years t tors of The Mother Church in Science Church is disintegrating With this in mind, T had taken time to read several Christian Sci- ence sermons, which were published recently in the Sunday editions of the New York newspapers, by Mrs. Augusta E. Stetson, C. S. D, to find some clue to her position in the dis-] pute. Sent by Mrs. Eddy. I learned that Mrs. Stetson had been sent here many years ago by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, and that she, with her students, had built First Church of Christ, Scientist, at Ninety-sixth street and Central Park West, at a cost of $1,250,000, and dedicated it, free of debt, as soon as completed. These sermons convinced me that Mrs. Stetson understands and is wholly loyal to the science which Mrs. Eddy gave to her followers, and that she is convinced that the product of her versatile pen and logic of her presentation will give much light to those whom she calls doubters and seekers for Truth, upon a religion for which it is claimed that, if demonstrable, every one will be eager to investigate and possess. Desiring to secure an authorita- tive statement regarding the mo- mentous issues in the Christian Sci- ence Church, I sought an interview with Mrs. Stetson, who did not know me. Perhaps I was moved also by a desire to see if the Chris- tian Science teaching was being proved in unimpaired faculties, health and prosperity by this woman, whom a large following claims as one of New York’s valued citizens. Certainly it has for years honored her for a brave, unflinch- ing defense of the religion which she believes 4rid declares is Christ’s gift to the world, rediscovered by Mrs. Eddy. I, therefore, rang the bell at the brick and marble resi- dence which, I learned, Mrs. Stet- son built, owns and has occupied for fifteen years. Symbolism in Pictures. The entrance to the house is through a vestibule inclosed in glass. This was filled with palms, ferns and dozens of large calla lilies. A large oil painting on stone, and framed in marble, corresponding in shape to the arched windows, faced the glass entrance door of the vesti- bule. The subject was from the twenty-second chapter of Revela- tion, “and he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crys- tal, proceeding from the throne of God.” The river and the trees on either side readily indicated the re- ligious sentiment of the owner of the house. 3 The solid mahogany door, which gives entrance to Mrs. Stetson’s home, bears a massive bronze knocker, representing a woman, who holds down two lions, one with each hand. One acquainted with sym- bolism would at once apply this to the great moral courage which Mrs. Stetson must possess, to have car- ried on her Cause with such seem- ing conspicuous success in the face of obstacles. I was ushered into a beautiful Louis XVI drawing room, the walls of which were hung with rose du Barry brocade satin. The five large arched windows were draped with heavy satin of the same shade and filet lace. Eight fluted Corinthian columns in ivory tone gave architectural dig- nity to the room. On the walls were two large oil paintings. One, by Hoffman, was a picture of the boy Christ disputing with the wise men in the temple. The other was a shepherdess with her shecp. The piano and harp, both in dull gold, and the chairs, tables and ornaments gave the observer an impression of harmony and beauty to be found only in a home of refinement and affluence. Remarkable Woman. While enjoying the artistic fea- tures of this room, a secretary in- formed me that Mrs. Stetson would see me in her library, which was above the drawing room. This room also is spacious, and beautifully fur- nished in red and gold. I was most cordially received by Mrs. Stetson, who remarked that while she rarely allowed herself to be interviewed, he dissension between the direc- Boston and the trustees of the Christian Science Publishing Society, which finally resulted in litigation, is believed by many to ‘indicate that the Christian and losing its power. It is also alleged that as a result of discord at headquarters there have followed factions and schismatic conditions in every branch church in the organization. she was glways very happy to make the acquaintance of the representa- tives of the press of New York city, who had for years shown her the greatest kindness and courtesy. My hostess offered me a comfort- able armchair opposite” her own, in a broad bay window. A silk shaded floor lamp .shed its soft light upon the figure of this remarkable wom- an, who, with her loyal and devoted students, has promulgat{d the Chris- tianity of Christian Science with a large degree of success in New York city. Evidently this was Mrs. Stetson’s ]workroom. Though all was in per- fect order, there were visible signs of the intense activity which must be necessary in one charged with the responsibility of standing for a Cause in which hundreds of thou- sands are said to be interested. Pen- cils, pens and writing blocks, letters and manuscripts were to be seen on | her carved mahogany desk, and on |tables there were copies of the |Science books, periodicals and works of reference. On the walls T saw pictures of Mrs. Eddy, and of religious subjects, such as “Daniel in the Lions’ Den.” The general impression was one of comfort and harmony. Birth-Throe of Progress. I was interested more than any- thing else in getting Mrs. Stetson’s views concerning the present and future of the Christian Science Church, the trustees and the board of directors of which have been and are engaged in litigation. I asked her if the dissension, which has ex- tended throughout the entire organ- ization, would not terminate in the breaking up of the church organiza- tion. “Oh, no, Mr. Starr,” Mrs. Stetson replied. “The recent litigation be- tween the directors and the trustees in Boston is only a birth-throe of progress, the law of immutable Truth, which precipitateg a survival of the fittest. Christ’s Christianfty will survive this sifting of the false from the true. Christ Jesus said, ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not p#ss away.’ Christ Jesus demonstrated the pow- er of Love over hate, of Life over a false claim called death. “God’s law must be obeyed by those claiming to be Christian Scientists. They must see their brother through spiritual sense and fulfill the law of Love for each other. In the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians, Paul says, ‘Though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me noth- ing’ The false claim of malice, hate and greed must gradually disappear under the solvent of Love, which is a quality of Spirit.” Mrs. Stetson then referred me to many facsimile letters from Mrs. Eddy, which showed Mrs. Eddy’s confidence in Mrs. Stetson’s under- standing ,and demonstration of Christian Science. She also showed me a facsimile letter, dated July 20, 1907, in which Mrs. Eddy said she was comforted by Mrs. Stetson’s answer to her question, whether sh® was ready to come out from the material world and follow Christ. Mrs. Stetson had replied that she thought she was ready. Firmer Foundation. In one of the Christian Science periodicals there was another letter from Mrs. Eddy in which she asked her dear brethren in New York if they were ready to build higher, on a wholly spiritual foundation; that Spirit was all, and there was no mat- ter. The reply of Mrs. Stetson and her trustees to this letter was that they did desire to build on a wholly spiritual foundation. Then came the separation from the material organ- ization. I asked Mrs. Stetson what the re- sult would be of this convulsion or revolution in the material organiza- tion. She replied, “It will give 2 firmer foundation to Christ’s Chris- tianity, or Christian Science, and will ~finally establish Christian Science on a spiritual foundation, according to the teachings of Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy.” I explained to Mrs. Stetson that I had read in the press, accounts of the expulsion of twenty-six of her students from the church which she, with her students, had built, on the alleged grounds of non-attendance, and of their immediate reinstate- ment by those now in control of the church, after proceedings had been begun in court by the twenty-six expelled members. “I have also read the full-page ser- mons on Christian Science,” 1 ex- plained, “which, subseg’:ent to this b " 27, 1921—PART 2. ADVERTISEMENT. —_— ADVERTISEMENT. ——e e [ ADVERTISEMENT. e U, legal action, you have published in|of Life, of which the material book | pected to return to her old position the advertising columns of the press,|is but the symbol, the names doubtless at great expense to your- those who attain to a wholly spir- in the church. “No, Mr. Starr,” she replied, “in- self, and I must admit the logic, elo- | itual consciousness will be found, as|deed. I do not expect to return to quence and force of your articles have interested me; but I found nothing whatever of the twenty-six | work of every Christian Scientist,|{never re expelled students, and no mention of your opponents. Therefore 1 was puzzled as to your motive.” Preached for Years. “Mr. Starr,” began my hostess, “for years I have preached from the pulpit to those who were desirous of learning the Science of Life, as taught by Christ Jesus and redis-| the Bible declares. in Revelation. “Therefore it is the individual to so fulfill the law of Love and Truth, that his name will finally be revealed, written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and enrolled in this Church, the Church Triumphant from which no name can ever be re- moved. In retaining their mem- bership in their Church, or spiritual consciousness, my students are not dwelling in a material organization, my old position. From those sery- jices I have graduated. But I have ed my right to the |church edifice, which Mrs. Eddy {built with me, and which she desig- ina_ud as ‘Mrs. Stetson’s Church.” I think that some time all will have |the privilege of attending the church Iser\u:es. and listening to their Pas- |tor—the Bible and correlative pas- | sages from Science and Health with | Key to the Scriptures, without oppo- | sition, for Love reflected in love will covered and given to the present age | hut‘they. are unfolding and rcveali_ng {finally result in unity of the true by Mrs. Eddy. But when twenty-six | their spiritual oneness with creative | breathren in the bonds of peace.” of my students were dropped recent- ily from membership in our church, without previous notice or hearing, on the charge of not having attend- ed the church services for a year, I saw that I must avail myself of the press in order that all may know what my teaching of Christian Science really has been and is. “My life is known by many, my teachings have been called by| the directors of the material organ ization ‘pretended Christian Scienc and my books, Reminiscences, Ser-; mons, and Correspondence, and Vital Issues in Christian Science with Facsimile Letters of Mary Baker Eddy, which contain all that I have taught and demonstrated for years, have been boycotted and the members of the organization forbid- den to read them. I have even been told, by those who afterward re- pented of ever having committed such an act, that my books have |themselves, been burned. “So in justice to my great Leader, | immediate Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, God. “Mrs. Stetson,” I asked, “to what |do you attribute the recent expul- Ision of the twenty-six member. “Recently three of my former trustees attended a corporate meet- ing of the church, the first at which they had been present during all these years. Shortly thereaiter but | came the notification that the twen- ty-six members had been dropped, the charge being that they had not | attended church for one year. I clesiaStical churches never drop a member except for serious misde- meanors or criminal acts. “It goes without saying that these persons, whose high moral character had never been questioned, would have had to carry through life thg stigma of having been dropped from a church, which claims to be based upon brotherly love, and in ‘justice to Christiag Science, as well as to they demanded the writ of mandamus, which compelled replacement of their Mary Baker Eddy, to myself and to | names upon the church rolls.” my students, I decided to publish my teachings, regardless of the expense, and I appealed to humanity, through Reinstated at Once. “And was there a contest in court the press, to judge whether my |over the issuance of this writ?” spiritual interpretation of the Bible and of Science and Health with Key | stated at once.” to the Scriptures conformed to Mrs. Eddy’s teachings. through the press. I know that “No, these members were rein- “Have other of your students been ) a I indeed went{dropped heretofore without a hear- into ‘the highways and the byways’ | in; ” I inquired. “Yes, many have been dropped genuine Christian Science, which I|from time to time, during the past teach and demonstrate, will show |eleven years.” the people the way to_ health, holi- “Have all been expelled for alleged ness and immortality, if understood | non-attendance?” and practiced. “No, in other instances the charges “In doing this I have brought the | are that they adhere to my teach- notice of thousands to Christian|ings aud read my books. Science, hoping to direct their at-{dents My stu- interpret the Bible, and tention to the churches, where the | Science and Health with Key to the Pastor that Mary Baker Eddy or-|Scriptures spiritually, as I do. We dained — which is the Bible and|claim this right of spiritually in- Science and Health with Key to th € | terpreting the Bible and Mrs. Scriptures and readings from which | Eddy’s writings. constitute the Sunday morning ser- “In her writings Mrs. Eddy rec- mon, without any interpretation —{oemizes the dangers of material or- may awaken many to genuine, de- ‘monsteable Christian Science. Faith Tested. “My responsibility is in being will- ing to go all the ‘way’ that Jesus marked out, even to drinking his cup of opposition to his statement, that he was the Son of God, which rela- tionship, in this hour, true Christian Scientists also claim for themselves, namely, that they also are the sons and daughters of God, who is the only creator, the Father and Mother of all. “As a pioneer of Christian Science, my faith and understanding, in dem- ganization. Let me read you this quotation from Retrospection and on, page 45: “After this material form of cohesion and fellowship has ac- complished its end, continued organization retards spiritual growth, and should be laid off, even as the corporeal organiza- tion deemed requisite in the first stage of mortal existence is finally laid off, in order to gain spiritual freedom and spprem- acy.” “What, then, is the function of onstration of Christ’s teaching, have | ‘material organization. as you call been tested, stress of opposition to the spiritual fact, that I am a child of God, spir- itual and not material. I have had to rise to a proof of the supremacy of divine love for God and for my brother man. “To fulfill this missjon has been|; der the greatest|it?” was my next question. *Individual Growth. . “Material organization is requisite in the primary stages of Christian Science and should not be dfsrupted any more than the primary grade of school should be discontinued be- my responsibility. It is the people | cause some of its pupils have gradu- who are now responsible for re- jecting, or accepting and proving the rule, or the law of Life, the ful- filling’ of which is love for God and man.” in health, intelligence and energy, I realized the necessity of proof of such a premise, to convince others of its value. “I have been told, Mrs. Stetson, that these twenty-six people who were dropped from membership in their church are prominent chtizens, men of representative ¢haracter and women of high culture and intellf- gence.” “Yes, they are,” Mrs. Stetson re- plied. “These men of affairs and great prominence, and women of the highest refinement and culture, were dropped without a hearing.” “Were all of them your students?” Trustees for Years, Looking at Mrs. Stetson, radiant gm'stian Science. ated into a higher grade. “The proper time for emergence from material organization must be determined by the individual growth each aspirant to the name of He must first be able to recognize,’and be willing to overcome, those false qualities with- in himself which claim to oppose his progress Spiritward. Until ready to begin this warfare, he is not prepared for spiritual organization, in which the element of unity re- sults from love for God and for ‘thy neighbor as thyself} and within which factions, boycotts and dis- sensions are impossible. * “After I, with my trustees, had re- plied to Mrs. Eddy’s letter, inform- ing her that we did desire to ‘build higher,” some of my students wrote me letters in which they assured me that they were beginning to build character on the spiritual under- standing, that ‘Spirit is’ infinit “Yes. Some of them were trustees | therefore Spirit is all. “There is no for years, during the building of the | matter,” church. At the time of the change, when the organization passed into the hands of the directors, my trus- tees, who were then in office, re- signed and left the management of the material organization to those who were appointed. “During the eleven years since that time, those who began with me to build on a wholly spiritual foun- dation have not interfered in the slightest with the church manage- ment. However, they have con- tributed to the support of the church and havey attended the Sunday morning service to hear their Pas- tor, which is the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scrip- tures. . “They had always been church members before coming into Chris- tian Science and their Sabbath church service had become part of themselves. They continued to oc- cupy seats in the church edifice, to the erection of which they had lib- ’ and therefore that they must see me and every one, as a spiritual idea. These letters I sent to Mrs. Eddy, as evidence that some of my students had risen to this point of spiritual discernment. “The hour had now arrived when I was ready to come out from the material organization. I had fin- ished my work, built my church edifice and had occupied it for six years. Mrs. Eddy, seeing that some of my students had grasped the spiritual import of Christian Science, published in the Sentinel these let- ters of my students, and the separa- tion of those who had risen to a desire to begin to build ‘on a wholly spiritual foundation,’ and those who had not, began. From that moment I, with my students, met the op- position of those who were not ready to begin to build ‘on a wholly spiritual foundation.’ Withdrew Membership. “Having worked through the ‘ma- erally contributed and to which they | terial form of cohesion and fellow- had invited both the saint and the sinner. Their spiritual thought and their presence accentuated the spir- itual animus of the Bible readings ship’ myself, I quietly withdrew my membership from my own church, thus causing contention to cease and and the correlative passages from [preventing any disruption fn the ma- Science and Health which serve as | terial organization, which must be Pastor of all churches, and their unselfed love for | gin butlg 1 a v God and man was and is a blessing | foundation,” which is to all upon whom their thoughts | finite; | “There is no matter.”” rest. : “My students, with me, are striv- ing to attain unity of the,spirit in|build on ‘the structure of the bonds of love.” They claim they | Love. Christian Science | carried on until all are ready to be- to build ‘on a wholly spiritual “Spirit_is in- therefore Spirit is all “With my students I continue to ruth and I have not been inside the have a right to a seat in the church | church edifice for eleven years, but edifice which they built.” The speaker, whose white-garbed | worship, I figure appeared almost luminous in |appointed Lesson-Sermon for years, at the regular hour of have gone through the alone the golden lamplight, seemed to be | with God, and have reflected Love looking beyond and above me, ob- | and Truth into consciousness, trust- livious to all mundane things, as if |ing it to ‘feed the famished af- in communion with some profound fections’ of those who are seeking source of inspiration, as she contin- | Christian Science. ued: But One Church. “Remaining at home for my church service, I can make a more conscious connection with Life and “In Christian Science there is but | Love alone with God, and can do one Church, even as there is but one | more toward reflecting to the people Book of Life. Mrs. Eddy defines|the power of Truth, than by meet- this Church as ‘the structure of|ing physical personalities, which Truth and Love,’ which means a|conmstitute a material organization, wholly spiritual consciousness or|and this protects the church and Mind of Christ. one character, the In | helps the people.” this one Church, as in this 1 asked i Takes Periodicals, | “Mrs. Stetson, 1 have heard that the Christian Science periodicals | have been boycotted by many of the i churches and members. Do you sub- yscribe to the periodigals?™ { “Certainly. 1 have never for onc i moment discontinued my interest in |any of the periodicals, and I sub- ibe to them all.—The Christian Science Quarterly, the Monitor, the Sentinel, and the Journal rs. {Eddy enjoined her followers to sub- ! scribe to them, and her voice is just as audible to me now as then. The periodicals are part of Mrs. Eddy’s work; she established them, and in our church Manual she says: { “It shall be the privilege and jduty of every member, who can af- ford it, to subscribe for the peri- odicals which are the organs of this {Church.”” ince you subscribe to the peri- odicals, Mrs. Stetson, does thi |mean thit you support the trustees lof the Publishing Society in their contention with the directors of The Mother Church, now at issue in the Massachusetts courts?” “Mz. Starr, both the directors and the trustees have repudiated me, since I, with my students, began to build ‘on a wholly spiritual founda- tion,” in obedience to Mrs. Eddy's request; but I could not entertain resentment of their opposition. That would hold me in a material concept and would prevent my spiritual development. Unable to Understand. “They seem unable to undex:shnd the spiritual goal which I strive to attain. 1 have found refuge in the words of Christ Jesus, ‘Father, for- give them; for they know not what they do” The dissension in Boston is entirely apart from my spiritual activities. They must leave to me my inalienable right to interpret Christian Science from a ‘wholly spiritual foundation,’ for which mis- sion Mrs. Eddy had preparéd me during an intimate association of more than twenty-five years. “I am confident that I am right, because of my demonstration of the teachings of Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy and of the power of spiritual love to deliver me from the claim of a material law and a mortal man, with its material or- ganizations.” ¢ “Mrs. Stetson,” I asked, “if you had gone to law when the directors charged you with ‘teaching pre- tended Christian Scienee,’ and for- bade you to teach or heal could you have proved to the world that vou understood and demonstrated Christian Science as taught by Mrs. Eddy?” “Yes, I could have proved to the world that I was teaching genuine Christian Science. But I, as a teach- er, depending entirely upon the law of Love and Truth, could not appeal to Caesar—material law. My stu- dents, who have not yet risen to a full demonstraion of the defense which the law of Love affords, may have to appeal material law_to defend their spiritual rights. But {Mrs. Eddy enjoins Christian Scien- tists to be a_law unto themselves, and this law is the law of love for God and for our brother man. “Christian Scientists who are be- ginning to build ‘on 2 wholly spiritual ~ foundation’ recognize spiritual man as the real man, and they repudiate the nugeru.l pigment, calling itself man, as illusion, error, nothing. This task, of beginning to build ‘on’a wholly spiritual founda- tion,’ is an individual problem. No one can compel another to hasten his exit from sin, sorrow and death. May 1 read to you what Mrs. Eddy says in llancous Y Here Mrs. Stetson read the follow- ing words of Mrs. Eddy: « _ . whenever they are equal to the march triumphant, God will give to all His soldiers of the cross the proper command, and under the banner of his Love, and with the ‘still, small voice’ for the music of our march, we all shall take step and march on in spiritual organiza- tion.” Mrs. Stetson Not Tired. With a gesture of apology Mrs. Stetson interrupted herself. “But I must not ask you to listen longer to me, Mr. Starr. I forget that I may be imposing upon you my Views, to the utter_disregard of your willing- ness to listen to metaphysical oints.” p“Oh. no!” I assured her. “I do see, though perhaps dimly, your, planation of your teachings—spi: ual metaphysics—and find it ex tremely enlightening. May I ask if you intend to publish sermons regu- farly in the press?” ' “No, not regularly—only as Iam God-impelled shall T be moved. At present the people have had all they can assimilate.” 3 As I rose to go, after this most interesting interview, was as- tounded to find that my visit had extended from 8:30 until within 2 few minutes of midnight, and begged Mrs. Stetson’s pardon. It had seemed but a very short time, and certainly Mrs. Stetson was the most wonderful _conversationalist and most convincing exponent of a Cause that I had ever met. 7 As we said “Goodnight” after this long interview, she was as fresh and as brilliant as if she had been talk- ing only a few minutes. She looked not a day over forty-five, and while I do not_ pretend to understand Christian Science, yet as I reviewed the impressions of my evening with Mrs. Stetson—the harmony and af- fluence of her home, her intelligence, eloquence, and profound wunder- standing of her subject, and the gracious warmth of her manner— it seemed to me that the subject of our interview had given proof that she has been faithful to, and that she is a demonstrator of. the real teachings of Mrs. Eddy, which the latter claims give health, intel- ligence and prospetity,