The Christchurch Sensation.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 132, 14 June 1901, Page 4

The Christchurch Sensation.

The following biographical sketch is given by the Lyttelton Times of Mrs Plunket, who committed suicide last week:—

Early in 1890 Mr and Mrs Worthington, as they were then known, with two children, a boy and a girl, arrived in Christchurch and took up their residence in Office road, St. Albans, commencing with a few people to hold what were called classes of the Students of Truth. For some little time the number was only sufficient to till one of the rooms. By and by, however, the numbers increased, and in June a move was made to the Oddfellows’ Chambers, where Mrs Worthington took part in the work. Subsequently tire Oddfellows’ Hall was taken, and classes were instituted, in the working of which she took part. At a still later period the movement for what was called the Temple of Truth was carried out, and on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone, and also in the - formal opening, Mrs Worthington and her two children took a prominent part. For some time after the occupancy of the Temple matters between Mr and Mrs Worthington progressed, as far as could be seen, smoothly, although she made several attempts, which were always resisted by him, to obtain the ascendancy. She formed several societies in connection with the body, of which she was the head and moving

spirit. The efforts made by Mrs Worthington to stand forward prominently at last led to open rupture. The children made a

statement repudiating the name of Worthington, and announcing their names to be Plunket. Mrs Worthington, prior to her coming to New Zealand, had been married to Dr Plunket, but a divorce had been granted in America.' This was followed by a series of statements published by Mrs Worthington, in which she attacked Mr Worthington pretty severely. This rupture caused an entire separation between'tho parties, Mrs Worthington, as she had been known up to this time, following the example of the children, and discarding the name, she took that of Sister Magdala, by which she had been known in connection with one of the organisations she started, the three, with Miss Franc Garstin, who also had been associated with Mrs Plunket in her work, then left the house next door to the Temple, where she was residing at the time of her death. Some portion of the followers went with her, and, after a short, but exciting, paper warefaro between Mr Worthington and herself, she settled down in a small office in Chancery lane, and took up the work of mental healing. For some little time she remained there. In the meantime her girl had been adopted by a gentleman in Christchurch, and the boy went to America. Following upon this Sister Magdala, as she was called, removed to a flat in Luck’s Buildings, still continuing to carry on the mental healing in conjunction with Miss Garstin. At a still later date another move was made to the house next to the Choral Hall, which she had left at the time of the rupture between herself and Mr Worthington. Here what is known as the New Zealand School of Mental Science was founded, and has been carried on up to her death. Some four or five months ago Sister Magdala—or, as was announced in the marriage notice, Mrs Plunket—married Mr J. S. Atkinson, a dentist here, of the firm of Messrs Atkinson and N'cdldy. In the marriage notice it was stilted that no change of name would take place, i. 0., that though she had married Mr Atkinson she wished still to bo called andiknown as Mrs Plunket.