The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-25
BUSINESS AND RELIGION.
Christian Scientists to Appeal from a
Philadelphia Judge.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
Your paper published a few days ago a
telegram from Philadelphia which an
nounced that Judge Arnold, of Philadelphia,
had refused a charter Incorporating the
Christian Science Church of that city and
that he bases his decision on the ground
that the church would be a business rather
than a religious corporation, inasmuch as
its proposed charter countenances the sale
of the Bible and the Christian Science text
book. Science and Health; with Key to
the Scriptures" by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy,
and that a profit could be derived from
the sales of such Bibles and textbooks.
The Philadelphia North American of
Sept. IL. referring to Judge Arnold's very
remarkable decision. states that THE First
Church of Christ. Scientist of this city. has
e membership of more than 800. The con-
gregation, which worships at Broad and
Spruce streets. contemplates erecting a new
for the application for a charter was that
the organization might hold property in
perpetuity." The North American also
states that the church will appeal from
Judge Arnold's decision to the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania and quotes from
James w. Laws. counsel for the church,
that he is preparing the papers. for an ap-
no profit from the sale of these books, and
it is not compulsory for Christian Scien-
tist to purchase copy" This is true of
every Christian Science Church in the
world. Mr.. Laws further states that Judge
Arnold, TO sustain the contention in his
opinion that the church would be bust
ness rather than a religious corporation,
had to go, and did go, outside of the EVIL,
dence in the case as to supposed profits on
the sales of books.
While / have no desire to put my little
broom up against the decision of a Phila-
delphia judge permit me to state that
according to my humble knowledge as a
lawyer. the decision is a most extraordinary
one. and, think, quite sure to be reversed
by the Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania If
the main object of an organization is some
form of religious worship, then the circum-
stance that in the furtherance of such main
such main object. and as incidental there
to- books, whether Bibles exclusively or
Bibles and other religious textbooks be-
longings to the tenets of the religious serv-
ices OF such church may be sold, does not
change the fact that the organization is a
religious, not a business, organization Even
If such church itself were the direct bene-
ficiary of the profits from the sales Of such
books, which is never the fact with Chris
tan Science churches, yet, IL such benefac-
tion was not the main intent of such or
ganization. but was bona ide merely Incl
dental, Ii would be a manifest distortion
of legal principles to hold such church to
be a business corporation and not a re-
ligious body. For example, suppose that
some church organization. Protestant or
Catholic, conformable to its organization,
finds ii useful to hold a church fair occa-
sionally in order TO raise few dollars for
some church purpose. as is frequently done.
would Ii not be a very great surprise 10
learn of some judge holding such church
to be a business rather than a religious or
ganization? But refrain from further re-
marks because the Supreme Court of Penn
sylvania will be called upon to pass on all
these matters. Z. A. BCSkIRK.
Indianapolis, Sept. %.