Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02
He ASKS FOR ACCOUNTING
Prominent Christian Scientists Are
Named as Defendants.
RECEIVER WANTED FOR ESTATE
Bill Of Complaint Declares That the
Founder Of the Cult Has
Irrational Ideas.

CONCORD N. H., March 2.-That Mrs.
Mary Baker Glover Eddy is and for long
time has been incompetent to do business
or to understand transactions conducted
In her name or In connection with her
property is the allegation made by her son,
George Washington Glover of Deadweod.
8. D., in a suit in equity, In which the
papers were filed yesterday with Amos J.
Shurtleff, clerk of the superior court for
Merrimac county
Mr.. Glover his daughter Mary Baker
Glover, and George W. Baker of Bangor,
Me, the only surviving nephew of Mrs.
Eddy. appear in the proceedings as next
friends" of Mrs. Eddy, who is the nominal
plaintiff in the proceedings.
The defendants are Calvin A. Frye, pri-
Vate secretary, and Lewis C.. Strang, as
sistant secretary to Mrs. Eddy; Prof. Her
mann Herring, the first reader Of her church
in this city; Irving c. Tomlinson. a men,
Der of the church board of lectureship;
Joseph Armstrong, william B. johnson,
Stephen A. Chase and Bliss Knapp of Bos-
ton, and Edward A. Kimball of Chicago,
prominent Christian Scientists.
What Bill Asserts.
1t is asserted in the bill that these de-
PENDANTS have possessed themselves of Mrs.
Eddy's person and property and carried on
her business; that having done this, know
ing of her infirmity, they have become
trustees for her of all property which has
come into her possession. and are bound
to give account thereof. and of all their
transa ctions in her name; that there is rea-
son to fear that the defendants have
wrOngfully converted some Of her prop
erty to their own use, and that there are
particular transactions of which an &C
count should be given.
The bill asks, first. for an accounting for
all defendants transactions in connection
with Mrs. Eddy's affairs; second. for resti-
tuition in case wrongdoing appears; third.
interference with her property and bust
ness, and, fourth, for the appointment of a
receiver.
Say Mrs. Eddy Is Insane.
According to the statements Of plaintiffs
counsel who are John w. Kelley Of Ports
mouth, Martin & Howe of Concord and ex
Senator William E. Chandler, president OF
the Spanish treaty claims commission at
Washington, Mr.. Glover has been for some
time inclined to believe that his mother
was too feeble in body and mind to attend
to her extensive and important business
matters. He had some difficulty in gaining
more than momentary interviews with her.
but on January 2 Of this year he and his
daughter were permitted by the members
of Mrs. Eddy's household to see Mrs. Eddy
for three-quarters of an hour. AS a result
Of that interview, Mr. Glover told his coun-
sci that he was convinced his mother was
weak bodily, Of beetouded and enfeebied
mind and possessed of strange and IRA
tional notions. If not insane. he said, her
mental faculties were SO far impaired that
she could not attend to financial affairs nor
to give any intelligent direction to any
business of hers which might be of import
ance 1850.
Mr. Glover and his daughter further
learned, they told their counsel, that Mrs.
Eddy's secular business. instead of decreas-
tpO Wifh seemed
larger than ever. From all that could be
learned, it seemed to MIR. Glover that the
income from her metaphysical college and
her copyrights must be vast and gathered
in by reason Of the use of Mrs. Eddy's
name and raised largely by active move
Tie Its nominally headed by her.
Not Against Church.
He was advised by his counsel that
equity courts have authority to take charge
of the property and business of enfeebled
persons like Mrs. Eddy. and to see that
those having it in their control do not mis-
manage it or convert any of it to their
own use.
Mr. Glover's suit in equity" his eoun-
sci says, lis not conceived in any spirit OF
disrespect or unkndness to his mother,
Mrs Eddy, but is intended and believed to
be proceeding for her real interests. Nor
is it directed against the religion OF the
Christian Scientists. 1t really means only
what it processes to mean, and Mr.. Glover
considers his action the performance of an
imperative duty too long neglected
Mrs. Eddy's Lawyer Talks.
Gen. Frank S. Streeter of this city, men,
Der of the republican national committee
from New Hampshire and formerly chief
counsel in this state for the Boston and
Maine railway is Mrs. Eddy's legal adj
WISER He said last night:
INV attention was called to these pro-
ceedings l have not since conferred with
Mrs. Eddy Within two weeks she has
consulted me several times on business
matters of inheritance Her capacity to