Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-02
SURPRISED AT THE HUB.
Bostonians Are Astonished At Action
of Mrs. Eddy's Relatives.

Boston. March Livery Christian
Science leader in this city, the home OF
the Mother church and the place OF
residence Of nearly all the defendants
in the suit brought in Concord today,
expressed surprise and establishment
at the action of the relatives of Mrs.
Eddy. Some of the officials We're easily
accessible and listened to the news of
the suit with great interest. Others
refused to either be seen or answer
any inquiry BY telephone.
1t was late in the evening that Chair
man Alfred Farlow, of the publication
committee and one of the defendants.
was located.
Mr.. Farlow said after being informed
Of the nature of the suit that he could
not say Just what would be done.
1.-The assertion on the part of these
people bringing the suit to the effect
that Mrs. Eddy is weak bodily and in
firm mentally is about as absurd as
possible. l myself have seen Mrs. Eddy
several times recently and I only wish
that l could handle the property as
we'll as she can at Sc.
at Is a strange proceeding to make
q person account for his or her own
money, and that is what is apparently
being done at this time. As YET nobody
in Boston knows about this suit. that
is nobody of the faith. l do not think
that any magazine or newspaper can
possibly be at the bottom of this move
ment, nor can I imagine from what
source or for what reason the suit Is
brought.
1--WE Of the church in Boston had not
anticipated trouble of any kind and the
news came as thundcrbolt. There has
been no trouble so far as ] know be-
tween Mrs Eddy and her son. I had
believed relations between them to have
been always pleasant"
w. r. Johnson. clerk If the corpora
ton. expressed unfeigned surprise up
ON learning Of the suit. He was very
emphatic in his statement that Mrs.
Eddy was not mentally unbalanced and
claimed that the suit was brought i'll
order to get her into court for the rur-
pose of dragging out some facts that
might give color to the contention or
the petitioners.
Rev Irving c. TomliDsOn. a defend
ant in the suit. was seen during the
evening at his home at 2l3 Huntington
avenue He said that he had not
heard of thu. suit and did not care to
express himself on it. He was. how
ever, greatly surprised and seemed
anxious to learn all the facts In the
suit.
Ira O. Knapp. who is also one OF the
defendants named in tn" bill. said over
the telephone. from his home tonight
that he had heard nothing of such
action.
mo papers have been served on me.
l have had no notice of the action. and
! know nothing about il" he said. Il
am a director not a trustee. OF the af-
fairs of the Mother Church. The other
directors are Stephen \. chace Of Fall
River. William +. Johnson. Joseph
Armstrong and Archibald Mcclellan Of
Boston"
The deed of the site Of the present
Christian Science church on Falmouth
and Caledonia streets. was given by
Mrs. Eddy to Ira q. KNAPP, William
Il. Johnson of Boston. stephen y.
Chace of Fall River and Joseph =.
Eastman of Chelsea, Sept |. 1902. the
consideration being the usual one dol
lar. One of the provisions of the deed
is that whenever the directors shall de-
termine that it is inexpcdient to main
tain speaking. reading or preaching in
the church in accordance with the deed,
they are authorized and required to
rcconvey the land and the buildings to
Mrs. Eddy.
The decd also provides that the
guarantees shall be known as the
Christian Science Board Of Directors
and shall constitute a perpetual body.
with the power to fill any vacancy only
with n believer in Christian Science
The new Christian Science church on
Falmouth street was opened last June
and cost S2,00O.000.
Mel A