New-York tribune., 1909-11-10
NAY TAKE THE CASE
TO COURT.
They Denounoc First Church
Trustees The Latter Blame
Sh1ckIcr.

ing upon the board Of trustees of the
First Church Of Christ Scientist 10
make an accounting ~ an moneys paid
out and 10 produce ali documents and
vouchers, IS wen as the list Of church
members which has recently been locked
up Tho meeting also unanimously PRO
tested against the management Of the
church under the board. which they con
slider is dominated by Mrs Stotson. The
meeting WAS called bv Copeland e.
Townsend. manager of Tho hotel. who is
christian Scientis,
IN the event Of the board refusing 20
comply NTH the demands made on II in
this petition. the ''sntis' threaten to
take legal action against 81. and have
placed the case in the hands ~ tho firm
~ Hoadley. Lauterbach & johnson. Of
10. - William street. who may carry
the fight 20 tho Supreme Court
Tho snti-Stetsonites announced AZ the
meeting that tho petition would he pre-
s"nted 20 tho board 81 trustees this
morning
I'm Tho course of The discussion il do
VeloPed that the opponents Of Mrs. Stet
son had recently sent a petition 10 the
aNNfiN Anfil 10 resign ms
pftition was laid on the table. as AN
insult - the entire congregation Of tho
church" n was also said that after
Mrs Stefson had been admonished by
rho directors IF tho Mother Church she
sent in her resignation - a trustee To
the local hoard Although this resigna-
tion Was not accepted. n is said Mrs
Stetson wrote 10 Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy.
leader ~ Tho church saving she had re
signed
TRUSTEES VIEW OF QUARREL
For Tho first time IS nc tho beginning
of tho present trouhl, between Mrs.
Augusta y. Stotson and the Christian
Science authorities in Boston the local
church trustees. through William n.
Taylor. one Of their number. made pub
lic vest erday a statement presenting
their side of the controversy.
Last Thursday. AZ an open meeting of
tho congregation Of Tho First Church II
Christ, Scientist. ~ which = report from
tho board Of trusi ,es was received. Mrs.
Sieison. who has been sdmonishcd md
suspended for three years by the christ
IAN Science hoard % directors thc high
st tribunsl Of the cult. was publicly
eNonerated, and portion al tho report.
which censuned Virgil - Strickler the
FIRST reader, was Withdrawn by the trus-
tees for furth- ~ consideration II ap-
Iesred yesterday that the Withdrawal
Was made with the belief that tho cen
sure of Nr. Strickl,r was not strong
enough. and ~ tho coming meeting Of
the congregation. which is 90 be held
h"Kt Monday afternoon. il is expected
that definite charges viii he made
oeainsi MIR Strickler, looking toward his
removal from tho Office Of first reader.
This action, n is thought combined
with tho rec mt division of the congre-
cation over Tho right and wrong 81 the
S'@'s"n case. cannot fail 10 widen dan
g"rously the breach between tho two fac
tons in the church
ACCUSES STRICKLER.
in his statement Yesterday Mr. Taylor.
sICaking of the trustees. was loud in
his denunciation. not only Of Mr. Strick
lfrs actions IN tho Stetson affair. but
also - the action of tho board OF direc-
tors m Boston Strickler's purpose. Mr..
Taylor said. was the elimination Of Mrs.
- ts0n.
From Tho following extract from Mr.
Iayl"r's statement il appears that The
trustees had been keeping close tabs on
th"ir frsf reader:
on July "a. 1902. Striclllor tolouhoned
o" Ros'en for John 4. Dittcmorc. Snrrp-
ferN of tb" directors Of tho Mother
church. 20 come fo New York. and n
100 Hotel Belmont They talked over the
situation for fiyc hours.
This sc'ion by the first reader. the
trustees declare. was The start 81 the
trouble and n vas against a bylaw Of
'he church, which specified that a first
reader should never make any complaint
~ any member of his church 20 the
pastor emeritus. Mrs Eddy. or to the
Mother Church. but that the trial Of any
ierson against whom a complaint was
entertained should be by tho trustees Of
Inc branch church 70 which The one
complained against belonged.
CHARGES OF STUDENTS.
About this Same time. however SIR.
Taylor admitted, Mrs Stetson was being
fKamined before the board 81 directors
IN Boston on charges filed against her by
Various 'disgruntled .nd disloysl" stu
gents
mares J. Nirobel and George William
put. Christian Science practitioners not
now connected with any local church.
bli s'ill members of r Mother church
IN Boston. who live ~ No. l01 West 18th
ereet IN this citH. declared on Monday
ihai they We're tho former students Of
Mfs Stetson who had filed the charges
~'g'naily. Rut Mr. Taylor. for The trus-
"ef lays the onus 81 the initiative %
the Whole affair upon Mr. Strickler's
shoulders
Answering Mr.. Strckiers assertion of
~" DAYS ago. that he (Strickler) had
Ffaoed with the directors 10 stop the
MS investigation Of Mrs. Stetson back
July. Mr Tsylor yesterday explained
WAT move IN this manner:
on July e. 1909 Strickler was called
ne phone az his home and was asked
meet Archibald NacLellsn. chairman
ne board of directors. and Secretary
9yhn Y Diftenore az the Hotel Belmont.
met fhenl there ~ 10 o'clock ~
-tih and they talked over tho inait.r
-i'l O'Clock th.- next morning. Stri'k-
81 fnaf meeting end"aKoT"d 10 per /
'apf them not - lake testimony from
' Practitioners in this church.
fpiloDing this inquiry. Mrs SteisoD