The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-02
EDDY WILL INTO COURT.
Lawyers VIII Have Chance at Dead
Christian Science Leaders Wealth.

Boston, Feb. "A move to carry out
the terms of the will of Mrs. Mary
Baker Glover Eddy, founder of Chris
tian Science. has been made A bill in
equity was filed in the supreme judicial
court asking the executor and the
trustees of certain trust indentures
executed by Mrs. Eddy in 1907 and 1908
be instructed to turn over her real
estate in Massachusetts to the di-
rectors of the First Church of Christ,
Scientist, in Boston. the residuary
legatee under the will. The amount is
estimated at 81, 500, 600.
The bill refers to the state law which
provides that the income of the gifts,
grants, requests and devises made to
or for the use of any one church shall
not exceed $1,000 a year exclusive or
the income of any parsonage land
granted to or for the use of the min
istry.' It also is said the real estate
referred to is of large value and the
income will exceed 5000 a year.
The bill says the state law in ques-
ton 'has no application to the gift
made by the bill in that the reslduary
clause in said will leaves the property
referred to to be held by the petition
ers in trust for charitable purposes"
An answer later was filed by the at
torneys for the trustees in which the
defendants admit the allegations of the
bill, including the one in which it IS
said they profess themselves ready
and willing to make such conveyance
if the same can be legally made. but
add they are advised by counsel that
as trustees no conveyance should be
made by them without an order of
court"
The bill is brought by Stephen A.
Chase. of Fall River. Archibald Nc
Lellan, Allison V. Stewart, John v
Dittemore and Adam H. Dickey, all of
Brookline, the Christian Science board
% in, Of a affairs
the First, or Mother church of Bos-
ton, and is against Adam H. Dlckey
and Archibald Mcclellan, of Brookl1ne,
Josiah E. Fernald, of Concord, N. H.,
trustees under two certain written in
dentures of trust, and Henry M. Baker
of Bow, N. H, executor of the last Will
of Mary Baker G. Eddy.
In the bill in e. Iity filed at Concord,
N. H, recently by counsel for the son
of Mrs. Eddy, George Washington
Glover of Lead, S. D., and DR.. E. j.
Foster Eddy of Waterbury, Vt, the
laws of that state and the similar one
in Massachusetts, limiting the income
from a church gift to $4,000 were cited
as rendering invalid the res1duary
clause of the will.
What action will be taken by the
heirs in view of the proceedings insti-
tuted here is not indicated.
Chambers Statement.
Washington, Feb. 2-Upon learning
of the filing of the bill in equity IN
Boston today, Former Senator William
P. Chandler of New Hampshire, coun-
SCI for the Eddy heirs, made the fol-
living statement;
ut is on,.5 a trick of the so-called re-
ligion of Christian Science to get a
premature decision in Massachusetts
of a very large question which belongs
to New Hampshire to decide, namely.
whether 81, 100000 worth of property
can pass to a religious society forbid
den to take more than $4,000 or $780,
900. Neither General Baker, the exc
cutor, nor the courts of Massachusetts
will hasten to assist this device. Mr..
Mcclellan filingaa bill against Mr. Nc
Lellan, and Mr.. Mcclellan admitting TO
Mr. Mcclellan that the plaintiff has a
good case is a mere farce"