New-York tribune., 1912-02-06
AbandonS Boston Authority and
Then Goes Out of Existence.
PLANS TO RE0RGANIzE
East Orange Seceders Split on
Detail of Financial obliga-
tions to Boston.

East Orange. y. j.. Feb. (SpeclaD The
Independent First Church OF Christ. Scien-
tist, OF East Orange. which renounced the
authority Of the mother church" OF Bos-
ton. just two months ago to-day. has ceased
TO be. Christian Bruins, the first reader. as
serts. however, that the society will be re-
organized and Will start again on it's lnde-
pendent career.
Inc severance OF the Boston tie is the in
direct cause Of the disbandment OF the or
ganization. Insinuations were heard eman-
ating from Boston. to the effect that the
funds contributed AT the time OF the organi-
cation OF the Christian Science Church
here came TO a large extent from those
firm In the Eddy faith. and that II was pre-
sUmptuous for the seeding organization 10
continue it, existence on a foundation which
II owed to the protecting arm II spurned
Some Of the faithful refused to remain with
the seeding church. thus strengthening the
ground Of hat criticism
a meeting OF the members was held on
wednesday night OF last week. at which
the question was put to a vote. There were
only sixteen members Ia the church but
the sixteen could no, reach unanimous
decision. However. there was a sufficient
majority TO carry the motion for disband-
ment The action OF the church was kent
secret until yesterday, when the failure OF
the members TO gather as usual at Arcanum
Hall started tongues to wag8ing and gave
rise to the rumOr that the church had ended
its existence.
Christian Bruins, The FIRST reader, admitted
to-day the fact Of disbandment. lie in
sisted, however, that It would be temporary
only. As soon as the affairs of the church
are settled up and a balance paid back
into the treasury OF the Boston Church the
members will be free to reorganize and
start afrcsh.
on the repayment OF the debt 10 the Bos-
ton organization, which is considered the
only way to square things. the discussion Of
last Wednesday night hinged Some OF the
members held that il would do no good TO
pay the money. and that # was not the
fair thing to do in any event They argued
that the one-time dependent church did not
owe anything 10 that coteTie, and that moth
ing could be accomplished by restoring
funds. Those who felt IL necessary, how
ever. 10 silence the criticism insisted that
the business Of the East Orange organiza-
tlon should be wound up and all funds left
after paying Off It's obligations should go TO
the main orgs niaatiOn.
In that way, and in that way alone, they
insisted. could the local church start on a
firm foundation. This view now prevails.
and the president Of the church. Frederick
Germann, and the other officers are busy
settling the affairs OF the church. 1t was
stated to-day that the president is prepar-
Ing n statement OF the church's position
and viii make II public soon.
The East Orange church had an existence
OF barely year. 1t was the second organ
izstion OF the kind TO sever its Boston ties.
II. Coulson Fairchild, chairman OF the
publicity committee for New Jersey in the
Christian Science organization, intimated
yesterday that he had not been surprised
by the decision to disband made by the
East Orange church.
The church membership had dwindled
20 about ten" said Mr. Fairchild, and
with its vote to dsorganize went resolu-
tion contributing all the Christian Science
literature I'm its reading rooms 10 the pub
licatIon committee for New Jersey. The
same resolution appropriated TO the Mother
Church, from which It had previously sew
cred itself. all the money remaining IN the
treasury after the bills were paid"
As Is usual when stories OF dlssension in
Christian Science ranks become public,
there were not lacking yesterday those
who asserted that Mrs. Augusta E. Stet-
son. the most prominent opponent OF the
church organization, had been In communi-
cation with the dissenting church
Eugene r. Cox, the New York repre-
sentative OF the church organization. as
we'll a. friends OF Mrs. Stetson. however.
denied that she had been active in the New
Jersey schism. II Is admitted that she has
been carrying on a pamphlet campaign in
oppogition 10 the Boston board OF directors
but her friends insist that the East Orange
AFFAIR was an independent split with which
she had no connection
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