Augusta Emma Stetson
Afterwards she began preaching and publishing various works on her theories which she named the "Church Triumphant," and started a controversial radio station to advance her cause.
Eddy's church was based on the healings of Christ Jesus,[6]: 2-3. and drew both faithful adherents and hostile critics.[6]: 3.
[2][7] Eddy was apparently disappointed with Stetson's preaching style however, such as her going on stage in immodest dress, and was particularly "mortified" by her at least once "imitating a Negro playing on a banjo."[5]: 694.
Before Stetson arrived in New York, Lathrop had already established a Christian Science teaching institute, stirred up interest for the new religion in the city, and had even been praised for her healing work by Methodist bishop John Philip Newman.
"[2] Stetson began exerting her influence and control more and more over the New York Christian Scientist community, as well as in other parts of the United States, including as far west as Portland, Oregon.
[11] By the 1890s, Stetson began losing support even among some of her star pupils such as Blanche Hersey Hogue and Carol Norton.
In 1895, preachers in all Christian Science churches were replaced by readers; however, Stetson required prodding by Eddy herself to in order to stop preaching.[c][6]: 6, 7.
"Eddy," wrote one historian, "who seemed to genuinely care for Stetson and appreciate her hard work, spent 20 years cajoling and praising her headstrong student, while also occasionally rapping her knuckles."[10]: 13.
Stetson also privately planned to move the headquarters of the Christian Science church from Boston to her home in New York after Eddy's death.[5]: 535, 695.
Eddy tried one last time to bring Stetson back into the fold in December of 1908, inviting her to her home in Massachusetts to talk.[5]: 538.
Some of her other radical views included that sex and procreation were evil, and that she attempted to "control and to injure persons by mental means."[1]: 365.
As one historian wrote: "Such had been the turmoil caused by the case, and so shocking had been the evidence against Mrs. Stetson, that all but a few of her closest associates accepted the banishment with more relief than protest."[5]: 541.
[11][e] Stetson still retained some support, and continued to live in her mansion next to First Church, instructing students who had remained loyal to her.[1]: 366.
[17][18] Stetson was, as one historian put it, an "incurable mythomaniac" and that "nothing she says, especially about herself, can be taken at face value", and she even went so far as to reassemble photostats of handwritten letters from Eddy to make herself look good.[5]: 693.
She also started a short lived magazine called American Standard in order to "guard and foster Nordic supremacy in America" which in 1925 merged with a radio station bought for her by her students.[1]: 366.
The station, known as WHAP for "We Hold America Protestant", and officially owned by a group of Stetson's students who called themselves the Defenders of Truth Society, was known for being overtly anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic, and was often the subject of controversy.
