V ital Issues in Science A Record of Unsettled Questions which arose in the Year 1909, between the Directors of The Mother Church The First Church of Christ, Scientist Boston, Massachusetts and First Church of Christ, Scientist, New York City Eight of its Nine Trustees and Sixteen of its Practitioners New York City Christian Science Institute Augusta E. Stetson, G. S. D., Principal With Facsimiles of Excerpts and Letters of Mary Baker Eddy G. P. Putnams Sons New York and London frnfcfcerbocfter press 1914 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. Christ Jesus, John xv, f 16-1, He takes away mitre and sceptre. He enthrones pure and undefiled religion, and lifts on high only those who have washed their robes white in obedience and suffering. Mary Baker Eddy Science and Health, pages 571, 572 NOTE The references to the Manual of The Mother Church are taken from the 83rd Edition 1909, unless otherwise specified. The New York City Christian Science Institute was incorporated tinder the laws of the State of New York in the year 1891, and its activities have since continued without interruption. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT i II. THE MOTHER CHURCH MANUAL AND BRANCH CHURCH GOVERNMENT . . 7 III. MRS. STETSON BEFORE THE DIRECTORS OF THE MOTHER CHURCH ... 25 IV. BEGINNINGS OF THE CONTROVERSY . 30 V. DECISION OF TRUSTEES AFTER BOSTON CONFERENCE 47 VI. FINDINGS AND ORDERS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 190950 VII. NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY BY THE NEW YORK TRUSTEES . . 56 VIII. WHY THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY WAS FORMED 69 IX. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY, 76 X. MRS. STETSONS RESIGNATION FROM THE NEW YORK BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND FROM THE BRANCH CHURCH . . 95 XL SECRET OF A GREAT CHURCH WORK . 104 XII. PRACTICE OF HEALING IN FIRST CHURCH . 113 XIIL EDITORIAL CRITICISM OF FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, NEW YORK CITY 120 vl Contents CHAPTER AGE XIV. MATERIAL CONCEPT OF COMPOSITE LETTER ...... 134 XV. THE COMPOSITE LETTER How ORIGI NATED AND WHAT IT WAS . . . 147 XVI. THE PHYSICAL versus THE SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY 15 XVII. TREATMENT OF SIXTEEN PRACTITIONERS BY THE MOTHER CHURCH DIRECTORS 166 XVIII. POSITION OF THE SIXTEEN PRACTITION ERS 184 XIX. THE MOTHER CHURCH ADMONITIONS OF SIXTEEN PRACTITIONERS . . .210 XX. ADMONITIONS BY FIRST READER OF NEW YORK CHURCH .... 230 XXL PRACTITIONERS BEFORE THE NEW TRUS TOES 235 XXII. THE SIXTEEN PRACTITIONERS MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT .... 245 XXIII TWO-COUNT COMPLAINT TO THE DI RECTORS OF THE MOTHER CHURCH ANALYZED 248 XXIV. Do NOT ORDERS OF APRIL FOURTH VIOLATE LAW AND JUSTICE . . 253 XXV. PRACTITIONERS ANSWERS TO THE TWO COUNT COMPLAINT .... 259 XXVL SO-CALLED ADMONITIONS BY THE FIRST READER OF THE MOTHER CHURCH TO THE NEW YORK TRUSTEES COMPRIS ING THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY . 280 Contents vii CHAPTER PAGE XXVII. ANALYSIS OF THE SEVEN FINF s . 303 S XXVIIL SELF-DEFENSE IN CHRIST . SCIENCE AS TAUGHT BY MARY BAKER EDDY . . 348 XXIX. SUMMARY 356 XXX. DEFENSE OF SPIRITUAL PACTS IN DIVINE LAW AND ORDER . . . .360 Vital Issues in Christian Science CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY STATEMENT THIS Record is prepared by the New York City Christian Science Institute forthe information of Christian Scientists in particular, and for all others throughout the Christian world who may p pc o be interested. It is intended to be a plain Record statement of facts regarding the issues between the Directors of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts, and First Church of Christ, Scientist, New York City, eight of its nine Trustees, including Mrs. Augusta E. Stetson, C. S. D., and sixteen of its practitioners...