The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-24
FISK IS OUT.
Head of Christian ScieneeChurch
Here Deposed.
RumOr That He Will Commence
Legal Proceedings.
HE DENIES THIS.
Says Trouble Is Like a ChiId's
Quarrel.
Thinks That 1t May Be Settled
Tonight.
THIS.
DENIES

There is trouble in the Christian
Science church in Topeka, and develop
ments may follow which will prove
startling. w. c. Fisk, of No. 422 West
Seventh street, the first reader of the
church in this city. has been deposed by
the board of directors of the church,
and also deprived of membership and it
is asserted that unless he is reinstated
d lawsuit will follow.
The trouble in the Christian Science
church is said to date. back as far as
the time when the local society acquir-
ed the church property on Huntoon
street.
Stories differ on the subject. Some say
there is no trouble and others declare
as emphatically that there have been
some very annoying things which have
occurred here. 1t is said that a con-
siderable number of the members OF. the
church have always been opposed to
the leadership of Mr.. Fisk. It is said
that at the time the church on Huntoon
street was bought, Mr.. Fisk was asked
among others to share the cost of pur-
chase. The congregation was small and
the expense considerable to be divided
among those who were able to meet the
expense. 1t is said that Mr.. Fisk fail
ed to assist in a material manner and
that later, when the church was secured
and fitted up, he succeeded in having
himself declared reader.
This is where the trouble first orig
mated The selection of Mr.. Fisk at the
time of the election came as a surprise
to most of the members. Many felt that
the election was secured by working in
a quiet manner that was not justified in
light of the fact that he had failed to
contribute his proportion of the expense
of securing the church building
Shortly afterward q few of the mem
bers withdrew from the first church and
held their services at a hall down town
Gradually the members who were not
in sympathy with Mr.. Fisk and those
who felt that his leadership was not
satisfactory left off attending services
at the church building which had been
secured at such a large expense and
instead began attending services at the
second church which is now located in
the Smith block at Ninth and Kansas
avenue. x4
The readers in the Christian Science
church are elected for three year terms
After serving one term as reader. the
person is not eligible for another term
in any locality
but if the action of the board of di-
rectors is ratified, his term will have
already ceased.
The trouble has been intensified by
anonymous communications to the
higher leaders of the church in the east
which have come from Topeka.
1t is said these anonymous communi-
cations have been filed with complaints
and accusations against the other lead
erS and influential members of the or
ganlzation in Topeka Considerable ef-
fort was spent in trying to trace the
foundation or rather the source of the
anonymous letters, and it has been
charged that they were traced to Mr.. |
Fisk. He says the charges are untrue
and is naturally indignant
The matter was brought to the at |
fRnfiOn he directors
some it is said that Mr.. Fisk was not
given an opportunity to defend himself |
before the board. and by others it is I
declared that Mr.. Fisk was notified but I
that he failed to take advantage of the !
opportunity afforded him
AT any rate it seems that Mr.. Fisk |
made no defense for himself on the |
various charges which were lodged |
against him and the board of directors /
decided that it would be best to depose
him.
The action of the board it is said is
not final The action must be ratified |
by the members of the church. 1t is |
said that if the action of the board is
ratified the proceeding will not stop but |
that an effort will be made to de9ose
Mr.. Fisk as a member of the church so |
that hereafter he will have no rights as
a Christian Science healer or teacher
A reporter for the State Journal found I
Mr. Fisk today at his home Mr.. Fisk |
denied emphatically that there was any I
serious trouble in the church and declared
at meeting of the board of directors or
perhaps within day or two, or at the9
longest within two weeks
1T is simply a little trouble which is
Mr.. Fisk 1T is simply little family |
quarrel. as it were. 1t is only boys play,
a silly difference of opinion, such as men I
will sometimes show, and no doubt the
matter will be amicably settled.
1t is known that unless Mr.. Fisk is re-
instated he intends to bring legal action
in the courts to compel reinstatement and |
perhaps to compel the payment of dam
ages on account of the charges made
against him that he was the author of the
anonymous letters.
Mr. Fisk was asked in regard to that
matter.
ssThat is not the CASE he declared. Il
will under no circumstances resort to le-
gal measures and in fact can say that
have not consulted with a lawyer in re-
gard to the matter at all
been selected to succeed Mr. Fisk at the
factions seem to be agreed upon the fact
that a successor has not been selected.
1t is declared that q new reader will
certainly be elected in November if a new