Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-08
The HEIRS YIELD.
Eddy Wills Request 10 the
Mother Church Stands.
Natural Heirs Join With Trustees
In Anicable Settlement.
Legislature Passes an Act Allowing
Church to Accept the Money.

Boston, FEB. t.--Lltlgatlon OF the
bequest of $2.000,000 left to the First
Church Of Christ Scientist of Boston,
by Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy. ended,
today. when her natural heirs Joined
with the trustees of the church in pro-
posed DEGREES entered in the several
courts involved.
Cofncident with this action the Mass-
achusetts House, this afternoon, con-
CURED with the Senate in an enabling
act, which when signed by the Cover
nor, will permit the Mother church to
accept the money and use it for the
advancement of Christian Science as
directed by its founder.
Four stipulations composed the de
erees. which were entered simutane
ously in the state courts of Massa-
ehusetts and New Hampshire and the
federal court for the district of New
Hampshire. The attorneys general of
the two states join in the decree In
these George w. Glover of Lead. <.
D., and +. J. Foster Eddy, of Wa.
terbury, VI, son and adopted son of
Mrs. Eddy. abandon their suits for
share in the estate and denounee their
NAtfA'4f- - tS4'F l'eNit Va AIlS illOltfN itll
to the church. The trustees on their
part consent that the administrator of
the estate shall pay the sum Of $4,000
for the assignment OF the sons con-
tingent right to renew in their life
times, the copyrights upon their
mothers published works. they fur
Their consent that the trustees holding
the fund of S175.000 (Which is the
trust fund portion of the $3.50. 600 set
tied on them by Mrs. Eddy in 1909 in
Heu o. their share of the estateJ shall
not further claim that their rights
in that fund were forfeited by their
action in subsequent court proceed
ings.
In the contest now brought to a
close, the plaintiffs Glover and Fos-
ter Eddy were represented as chief of
counsel by Former United States SEN
ator William A. Chandler of New
Hampshire. Mr.. Chandler was in
Washington, tonight. His associate
counsel Herbert Parker. formerly at
torney general of Massachusetts. said.
The stipulations from the view
point of the heirs finally and conclu-
slVely terminate all present litigation
and preclude the possibility of further
litigation or controversy by them with
respect to the disposition of the es-
tate of the late Mrs. Eddy.
The termination of this litigation
was brought about amicably and vol
unfairly on the part of the heirs and
all parties have Joined in mutual con-
sent to the entry of the proposed de-
erees in the several courts"
1t is maintained by both parties to the
agreement that no consideration other
than that shown in the stipulations in
iluenced the retirement of the, heirs from
contest that has occupied the courts for
more than two years
Mrs. Eddy's home was at Concord. n.
H., but a few years before her death she
removed to Newton, this state, where she
died. Dec. 4, 1910. Her will, which dis
posed of an estate of about 81, 800, coo, left
approximately $2,000,00o to the First
Church of Christ, Scientist, of Boston, as
trust for the advancement of Christian
Science. The two sons had already been
provided for year before her death,
when they received from Mrs Eddy $780,
600 in satisfaction of all future claims
against her estate.
In January, 1911 Glover and Foster Ed
dy attacked the will. invoking the stat
utes of New Hampshire and Massachu-
setts, which limit requests to churches to
sums returning annual incomes of not
more than $1,000 and $1,000 in the respective
states. Soon afterwards a friendly suit
was instituted in Massachusetts, where
also Il copy of the will was filed and
! eventually, through various Iitigations.
| the question of the validity of the will
| reached the supreme court both in New
| Hampshire and this state In New
| Hampshire, the will was upheld. The SUI
preme court of Massachusetts ruled that
the 81, 600 000 bequest could not be receiy-
ed by the Mother church, but at the
same time declared that the wishes of the
| testator should be respected. That this
might be accomplished the trustees of the
church obtained the Introduction in the
Legislature of the enabling act passed
today.
Concord, y. H, Feb. 7.-General Frank
s. Streeter of Concord, n. H., who repre-
scented the church in the court proceed
ings. tonight, said:
'In view of the denuneiatory allega-
tons in the court pleadings of Mrs. I'D.
| dy's two sons against her, her religion
and the officials of her church. the recent
proposal of their counsel, Former Attor-
ney General Parker, to end the litigation
came to us as an agreeable surprise. II
was especially gratifying that Mr.. Par
ker should willingly agree in our Joint
| Continued on Page Seven.)