New-York tribune., 1909-11-11
CLASH In CHURCH
SCIENCE FACTIONS IN
VAR OF TESTIMONY.
Trustees Decide on Charges
against Stickler-To Gire
Accounting.

Wednesday evening meeting OF the First
Church of Christ. Scientist. at Central
Park West and 9tth street. last night
gave every evidence that the battle be-
tween the two factions OF the cult in this
city was approaching a crisis. Nume-
Gus testimonies on each side OF the Stet-
son case were given by followers of Mrs.
StetsOn or Of Virgil o. Strickler. the
First Reader. One man compared Mr..
Strickler's present position with that OF
Governor Hughes at the time OF the in
surance investigation and thanked God
that the Church had man like him To
probe the corruption which he said ex-
isted
Mr.. Strickler. from the platform,
stopped any further testimony of this
nature by saying that the Wednesday
evening meetings were not for the pur-
pose of expressing opinions on current
events. but on Christian Science. There
was applause from all sections of the
church. but the reader quieted the con-
gregation by reminding the members
that they were in a church. Following
the meeting the trustees held their regu-
lar monthly meeting. at which they took
up the formal demand made by the con-
gregationaI meeting on Tuesday even
ing.
CHARGE AGAINST STRICKLER-
The trustees. after a session lasting
until after midnight. announced that
charges would be preferred against .Vir-
gil o. Strickler. first reader of the
CHI hot rharr aH ar he
meeting and a copy was handed 10 Mr..
Strickler. In regard to the eOmmunica-
ton made by the members of the church.
requesting the privilege of inspecting
the financial and membership records.
the trustees announced that a letter had
been sent to the members signing the
request, saying that they might appoint
a small delegation as representatives TO
make the inspection and the trustees
would allow the inspection TO be made
in that manner.
In a prepared interview the trustees
said that they were not opposing Mrs
Eddy and that they were not opposing
the Mother Church or the Boston direc-
tors in the report which they made TO
the church last Thursday In this con-
nection William II. Taylor, speaking for
the trustees. said:
I'VE do not know what the testimony
was upon which the Mother Church di-
rectors made their findings. and they did
not grant our request TO furnish US with
a copy OF their testimony. In this they
were perfectly right; but instead. they
advised us 90 make our own examina-
ton"
Mr.. Taylor said further that it was
upon the evidence taken by themselves
that the report was made.
Richard P VerraH. for fifteen years
one of Mrs. Stetson's closest adherents.
but now allied with the Strickler faction,
explained his position yesterday.
AT a meeting OF members OF the con-
gregation recently Mr.. Verrall addressed
the gathering and strongly denounced
the methods Of the board Of trustees
OF the local church, which. he said.
simply acted as a dummy body moved
in accordance with her (Mrs. StetsOn's)
will"
THREE DEMANDS
Ten members Of the congregation. said
Nh verran yesterday. recently sent TO
the board Of trustees a formal communi-
cation divided into three sections OF de-
mands. The first was that the trustees
accept Mrs. Stftson's resignation from
the board. the second that they stop the
payment TO her OF 5000 year. and the
third that the entire board resign Mr.
Verrall said that the present board OF
trustees had brought the First Church
into disgrace before the field. the news
Tapers and members all over the world.
The work Of the recent committee of in
qairy Of the board of trustees which ex-
onerated Mrs. StetsOn and which en-
deavored To criticise First Reader Virgil
o. Strickler also came in fer Mr.. Yer
rails severe condemnation.
To know the contemplate character Of
their POSITION" he said; TO understand
the ahsurdity of the stand they are tax
ing. il should he known that they are
all students OF Mrs. Stetson. They have
excluded from their meetings the two
readers who were the only proIer per-
sons to take any initiative in matters OF
discipline. They have excluded Mrs. Su-
Same Thomas. who is known To he Ioyal
To the Mother Church. and they stand
together simply as a loyal body OF men
and one woman who are students Of Mrs.
StetsOn To try their OWE teacher on the
questions that she herself has Taught
them"
DEMAND ACCESS To RECORDS.
Through the law firm OF Hoadley.
Lauterbach & Johnson. two hundred and
thirty-h members Of the congregation
sent yesterday 10 John b. Higgins the
clerk. and Joseph y. Whitney. the treas
urfr. of the board Of trustees. another
formal demand that they have access To-
the financial records OF the board Of
trustees and To the card index OF the
membership. They specify that the
Rave access to the records Of vouchers
for money received by Mrs. \. T. Sta.-
son and 70 all records and entries re-
lating 10 donations OF Church funds
toward the erection and maintenance OF
Mrs. Stetson's private dwelling house
II was the plan OF the signers. II access
90 the records was denied them. 70 get a
writ Of mandamus and force the trustees
in that way 90 heed their demand
Mrs Maude Eissam Babcock. who
contributed largely 10 the installation u
the pipe organ Of the First Church. ac-
cused Airs. StetsOn yesterday. in an in
terview. of ha wing malpractiscd against
her some years ago. but Dr J. r
1,rovrefF ssr.saEina for Mrs S4ersn0 s.,f.t