The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-21
SUDDEN END TO
SUIT OVER
MRS.. EDDY
for the Christian
Science Founders Son
WithdrawS the Action.

CONCORD, N. H., Aug. N.-The famous
suit in equity brought on March / last by
George w. Glover, son of Mrs. Mary Baker
G.. Eddy, and others as next friends
against Calvin s. Frye and Others, to OBJ
tain an accounting of the property of the
aged founder and head of the Christian
Science Church, came to an abrupt end
today.
Immediately after the opening of court
in the continued hearing regarding Mrs.
Eddy's competency before Judge Edgar
Aldrich and his co-masters. William E.
Chandler. senior counsel for the next
friends. announced that counsel for the
next friends had filed with the clerk of
the court a motion for the dismissal Of
the suit.
He said that there were many reasons
for this action, but the principal one was
"the appropriateness of any Immediate
result of a decision in our favor upon
the exact issue as now framed, compared
with the burdens and disadvantages to be
endured by us both before and after such
a decision"
Mr.. Chandler continued: 1.-THE suit has
been almost wholly altruistic in its nature,
and not a single dollar of the large fortune
whose existence is disclosed or which
might be enlarged in consequence of this
suit can become at this time the property
of the next friends. There are also reasons,
sentimental In their character, overcoming
the strong desire of the next friends to
prove the facts and vindicate the reasons
upon which the suit has been based,
which, however, is nov hereby dismissed. "
Mr.. Streeter, counsel for Mrs. Eddy, at
once presented a motion hat the masters
proceed with the hearing and determine
her competency to manage her business
affairs.
of we are allowed to proceed" said
Mr.. Streeter, 1--WE should show You that
on February u, 1907, Mrs. Eddy began to
arrange for the management of her prop
erty for the rest of her life and to provide
for her kindred during that time
MI. Streeter reviewed the institution and
progress Of the accounting suit, which he
characterized as primarily an assault by
a newspaper upon a great rellgion--a re-
ligion which its founder had designed to
promote after her death by the use of
a large part of her fortune.
mot one word of testimony has been
introduced" said MI. Streeter. ito show
that one dollar Of her money has ever been
misappropriated. The charge of her in
competency has completely collapsed. It
ia now stated In the press that the next
friends will abandon this suit for the
purpose of awaiting Mrs. Eddy's death
and then contestinR her will. Mrs. Eddy
has n legal right to a finding Of her
competency upon the case DIS 1t now
stands or upon such further evidence as
she NAV introduce"
Judge Aldrich said the issue submitted
to them was purely a property question.
He continued:
eve shall make a report to Judge Cham
berlain containing all the evidence and
the happenings of today. In case we
are in error in respect to the effect of next
friends withdrawal Judge Chamberlain can
direct us to resume the hearing. Without
such order we do not think we should be
justified in going forward with this hear
ing.''
publication committee, one of the defend
ants, after the dismissal OF the suit today
| gave. out a statement In which he char
acterized the suit as a gigantic farce, an
effort to annoy and discredit Mrs. Eddy
and stigmatize the religion of which she
is a founder"
The Christian Science publication com
mlttee made public a statement from DIR.
Allen McI,ane Hamilton, of New York,
alienlst. who, at the request of counsel.
examined Mrs. Eddy recently at her home
in this city. in which DR.. Hamilton said
Of Mrs. Eddy:
1T am firmly of the opinion that she
Is competent to take care of herself and
manage her affairs, and that she is not
coerced in any way. In fact it would APP
pear as If she takes the ~inititive upon all
occa eiour -