New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-16
DEFY MOTHER CHURCH
TRUSTEES HERE VI0L4TE
THE BOSTON BYLAWS.
Endanger Their Standing as Chris
fian Scientists IN Supporting
Irs. augusta Il. StetSOn.

MrS. augusta l.. StetSOn.
Another practitioner of the First Church of
Christ Scientist. has been admOnished and for
hidden TO practise. according 20 announcement
from Boston yesterday. At the time dis
closures concerning remarkable and somewhat
critical condition of the First Church were made
by a Christian Science Official OF high standing
here. While outwardly ali is quiet and peace
ful among those in authority in the big marble
church at Goth street and Central Park West. il
SIS said that the course being taken by the board
OF trustees in violation OF the bylaws of the
Mother Church in Boston may lead to serious
consequences TO them individual Scientists.
According 10 a Christian Science official. the
board Of trustees. in secret defiance OF the board
of directors in Boston, is supporting Mrs. Au-
gusta Z. Stetson. who on account of her false
teachings" disciplined by til Mother
Church, Mrs, Mary Baker q. Eddy approving
the act Of the directors in enforcing the by
laws. II is said that the trustees are taking
the advice Of the directors Ito arouse yourselves
TO the seriousness Of the situation. and to do
your duty without fear or favor" only in per-
functory manner.
After several letters had passed from Virgil
o. Stricken. first reader. to the board of trus-
tees, handing that action in accordance with
the admOnition of the Boston directors and the
bylaws be taken, an investigation into the
teachings and practices Of Mrs. StetsOn and the
practitioners was begun Hayne Davis. of
those admonished. and therefore a defendant
practitioner. was appointed TO conduct the in
vestigation as prosecutor. and il was arranged
that only eight members Of the board. consti-
tuting committee investigation" should
be present when testimony taken.
Among those occupying responsible posts in
the First Church and described by the directors
as being loyal Christian Scientists. in contrads-
tinction to Mrs. Stetson and the admonshed
practitioners, are Mr.. Stricken. the first reader,
and Miss Ella Young. the second reader. The
board of trustees was not. of course. included in
either class it is independent governing
body and as such is outside the jurisdiction of
the Mother Church.
PROTEST FROM MR. STROLLER
Soon after the order revoking Mrs. Stetson's
license to teach the annual winter class of
thirty members, the removal of her advertise
snent a practitioner from The Christian Sci
ence Journal" and the admOnition and removal
of cards Of the practitioners were made public
the board of trustees began TO hold meetings
IT is understood that Mrs. Stetson, Mr.. Stricken
and Miss Young received notice that such
meetings We're taking place. although they
members of the board. and, according to the by
laws Of the Church must be informed when
meetings are 10 be held.
When MI StTickler learned that the meetings
were taking place ne wrote letter of protest
10 Edwin F. Hatfield chairman of the board.
a second letter, much more emphatic than the
first. followed, it is said. and on Tuesday MI
strickler and Miss Young received formal noti-
Hcation Of the meeting held on Wednesday
afternoon at 4 o'clock This meeting lasted
about ten minutes and nothing concerning Mrs
Stetson or the practitioners was brought up
Another meeting was held on Thursday and the
two readers again received notice to be present
At that meeting, according TO a Christian Sci
enlist, the question Of the investigation was
Gaken up
1t is understood that there was some protest
on the part of the two readers against the ap-
pontment of Mr.. Davis as prosecutor but they
were overruled, and then a committee of eight
was selected, il is said with the intention of de-
barring the readers from the sessions
The Investigating committee" consisted of
Edwin F. Hatfield, chairman; Adolph Rush Jo-
seph b. Whitney. John Franklin Crowell, John
d. Higgins, William i. Taylor. Mrs Susan
Thomas and Mrs. Isabella Dam. The other
members Of the board are Mrs Stetson Mr..
Strickler and Miss Young
meeting Of the trustees was held yesterday
afternoon at o'clock and was continued az
many recent meetings have been. until late in
the evening. Neither Mr. Stricken nor Miss
Young was present Mrs Stetson also was alb
sent. Those called 10 give testimony are said
not 10 be among the original twenty-four stu
dents who testified unconsciously against Mrs
StetsOn in Boston.
UNPARALLELED SITUATION
1t is impossible to tell what the outcome of
the situation may be-" said Christian Scientist
yesterday. 1T is almost unparalleled in the his
tory Of the Church, and I doubt if these men
who form the board OF trustees Of the First
Church, all OF them prominent and wealthy
business men, would take any such course in
their business or in their clubs as they are doing
now. 3Aey violating the bylaws in conduct
ing such an investigation a board with three
members enforcedly absent, but they cannot be
regulated by any other body. 1t Will only be
when they violate the bylaws as individuals that
they can be accommodated.
1t is also questionable whether their invest-
cation in this manner Will have any legal stand
ing far the rules Of the Church are con-
cerned. They should have begun long ago No
matter what they report to the congregation IS
the result Of their investigation, il can have no
hearing the case. Their real duty is To lend
moral support 10 the bylaws and TO see that the
practitioners forbidden To practise do not carry
their work, either openly secretly. while
they are members of the FRS, Church"
Another Christian Scientist said he believed
that attempt being made to white