Article September 7, 1907 Issue

After nearly six months of strenuous endeavor, the...

St. Paul (Minn.) Dispatch

After nearly six months of strenuous endeavor, the attack on Mrs. Eddy and the Christian Science faith has come to an ignominious end. Ex-Senator Chandler has had to admit that success for his party is hopeless. It matters not that the scope of the inquiry has been limited by action of the masters in chancery in a way unsatisfactory to the complainants, for they have had an opportunity to prove, if they could, all that was relevant to the issue. The masters have had a personal interview with the aged head of Christian Science, in which they might determine, from her conversation and demeanor, the soundness of her mind. Mr. Chandler was present at the interview and could probably judge of the effect upon the master of what they then saw and heard. His action would indicate, to an unprejudiced mind, that he had little hope.

It is true, as General Streeter declared, that the plaintiffs' case has consisted wholly in an attack upon Mrs. Eddy's religious beliefs, with no evidence of delusions that would make her incapable of attending to her affairs or that she had been the victim of any conspiracy, as alleged. The only testimony to support the claim of delusions was in reference to her religious beliefs and teachings, questions on which men may honestly differ, and which courts in this country have no authority to decide. It was not established that the doctrines held up to scorn were given any practical application that was injurious to the rights of the plaintiffs or tended to impair the value of her property. As to the latter point, the result has been quite the contrary.

In short a religious controversy has been brought before the court and all good citizens should rejoice that it was pursued no further. This is a country of religious liberty, which can only be preserved when the government, in all its branches, refrains from meddling with religion. In that respect the case may be considered entirely apart from any one's opinion upon the merits of Christian Science. If one religious tenet, not repugnant to good morals, can be pronounced insanity by a civil court, any other may be inquired into and men may have their sanity doubted for faith in the Trinity, in Unity, in the efficacy of prayer, in one method of baptism as opposed to another, in the apostolic succession or predestination and free will.

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After nearly six months of strenuous endeavor, the...

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