The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-06
SOME COMMENTS
On the Recent Decision of Judge
 Arnold.

Arnold.
 To the Editor of the Journai and Courier;
 A few days ago you published in your paper a dispatch from Philadelphia stating that Judge Arnold had denied First Church of Christ. Scientist, Of that city, a charter on the ground that ''the so-called church is a corporation for profit" He based his opinion on note published by Mrs. Eddy request ing that the Christian Scientists spread her books.
 Commenting upon this decision, the editor of the Chicago Herald very apt ly said: "The denial of charter to Christian Science church in Philadel- phia is a futile proceeding, if 1t is real ly intended to stay the growth of the church. For this is not a matter that depends in anywise upon the discre- tion of the courts. Its sole dependence is upon the faith of individuals. If that becomes stronger and spreads, in- dividuals will exercise the right of per sonal liberty to worship as they please and help to extend the power and intiu- ence of the church. If the church Wanes the church will decline. and judges would be as powerless to prevent the decline as they are now to prevent an expansion. The fact that Pennsylvania has a law which vests the power to grant charters in the judges does not alter the essential features of the case in the slightest degree. It serves only 10 emphasize the lack of common sense in the particular judge who is concern ed, For everY one will infer that he was influenced by personal animus against the church, and that he took advantage of his authority under the law to gratify his hostile feeling. Many people share the feeling with him. but few of them will acknowledge that it is a fit guide for the interpretation of the Pennsylvania law, and when Judge Ar mold undertook a discriminate by say ing that the application for a charter covered a double purpose and church and a business run for profit, and when he based his refusal upon that discrim- ination, he assumed too much. for it was hardly his province to act as though he were a censor over sects--to license and forbid according to his per sonal notion of religion. That would be a big, contract for any man, and one that no man could be trusted with. On the other hand, it is perfectly clear that in the case of an organization which is as widely known as the Christian Sci ence church the petition of the members should have been accepted in good faith as a petition for charter, and granted as a matter of course"
 'oThe Christian Scientists" as MT. AL fred Harlow said in the Philadelphia Press September 26, ''do not attempt to conceal the fact that Science and Health is sold at the ordinary price ot such books, but the fact must not be overlooked that profit is given to the retailer and a liberal commission to the publisher, so that the price of the book is only part profit to it's author. The first edition of Science and Health brought Mrs. Eddy no profit whatever Thereafter, for a considerable period she paid for the publication of the booF and gave her students fifty per cent. o1 their sales. Nearly all those who have purchased Science and Health are stu dents of Christian Scienece-are identi fled with the Christian Science move ment. and therefore direct beneficiarie' of Mrs. Eddy's funds. It is safe to as sune that very little has come into thl movement from outsiders. Since thu Christian Science cause draws onl! from it's own people, how can 1t be LOOK ed upon as an institution for proht The individual work of those who giv their time exclusively to healing tn sick do so independently of the church and this feature of the Christian Sci ence work could not be considered tes timony in favor of the claim that th church is a business enterprise an more than an NJ D. who is memoe of a church, and who is practicing Il keeping with what his church consider the proper method of curing the sick could be regarded as an evidenece Una his church is a moneN-making institu +ion. Those who volunteer to be guar dians of the Christian Science move ment and who deem it their duty 0 nrivilege to publish Mrs. Eddy's pri vate affairs. should at least contin themselves to the facts, and she ca alone give them. The Christian Sci ence periodicals were Mrs. Eddy property. All these she has given the church, and at the present time the yield 6 liberal income. She has studl ousIy thrust aside many legitimat means for accommodating wealth. N one could possibly take all of thes matters into careful, intelligent and fai consideration without concluding ths the noble and illustrious leader Of tn Christian Science movement is entirel controlled by the desire to Christianiz the world through the scientific inter nretation of Christ's teaching, and tha netition for a charter on the part a branch church of this denomination for the purpose of aiding in this eXalt ed mission"
 If a judge in Pennsylvania cannt grant a charter to a Christian Scienc church because Mrs. Eddy few yea, ago requested that the Christian Scier , lists should carefully circulate hf books for the purpose of propagatin the truth of Christ, then I do not SC
 how a judge can grant charter to an other Protestant or Catholic churcl
 for it is well known fact that ever denomination that half way believes ii
 doctrine, and strives to be a living ar
 potent factor for the Christianizaton (
 the world, is ever doing it's best to ci
 cu1ate it's peculiar literature, and no or
 planes them for it.
 Take, for instance, the Methods
 Episcopal church, which is so large
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