New-York tribune., 1919-04-30
John V. Dittemore, Deposed
Church Director, Says
Space Is Sold by Con
cealing Circulation Facts
Abuse of Power Charged
Trustees of Publishing Go.
Alleged To Be Trying 10
Undermine Eddy Doctrine

BOSTON. April 29.-Charges that
the trustees of the Christian Science
Publishing Company, publishers of the
"Christian Science Monitor" are "un-
aertaking to subvert and undermine in
many respects the essential doctrines
of Christian Science as discovered and
promulgated by Mrs. Mary Baker G..
Eddy" are contained in bill in equity
filed by John V. Dittemore in the Su-
preme Court to-day.
Mr. Dittemorc, who was recently dis
missed from the board of directors of
the First Church of Christ, Scientist,
also maintains in the bill that the
trustees were "selling space in the
Christian Science Monitor by sup
preston of facts a to the extent of
their circulation" and that they were
"demoralizing their AGENT and en-
ployes by persistent incvility, AFRO
gance and abuse of power"
He also says that it is the duty Of
the directors t2 insist upon their juris-
diction over the trustees and demand
an audit and accounting of the bust
ness of the publishing society and
more adequate' editorial management
of all Christian Science periodicals.
Mr.. Dittemore asks that the court
missed from the board of directors
null and void. He alleges that Adam
II. Dickey, Edward A. Merritt and
William r. Rathvon, in voting as a
majority of the board to dismiss him,
acted Gin the hope of making a collu-
sive and unrighteous settlement" with
trustees of the Christian Science Pub
fishing Society, concerning the civil
conditions which had grown up III the
publish society,"
James A. Neal, another member of
the board, and Mrs. Annie M. Knott,
who was named to succeed Dittemore,
also are defendants in the suit to have
the board restrained from interfering
with the plaintiff in the exercise Of
his functions and rights as member
Of the board"
The removal by the directors of La
mont Rowlands from the board of
trustees of the publishing society on
March II, is said by Mr.. Dittemore to
have been IAN utterly inadequate rem
edy for the evils arising from the mis-
management and misconduct" of the
trustees
Mr.. Dittcmorc says he was dismissed
at the same meeting after having re-
fused to resign. The charges against
him, the bill says, did not reflect upon
his character, but were based ON his
disagreement with other members of
the board of directors regarding steps
to be taken for the protection of the
best interests of the church. He says
the charges were made against him
without any previous notice,
The bill also charges that the di~
rectors feared the trustees Of the pub
fishing society, "and Frederick Dixon,
editor OF "The Christian Science Moni-
tor" and adds that some of them were
largely influenced by Herbert w. Eus-
tace, "the dominating member of said
trustees"
1t also alleges that his dismissal
was Effected "largcly at the instance of
Dixon and the publishing society trus-
tees"
The bill also charges that the de
PENDANTS caused to be published in
"The Christian Science Monitor" an
article Announcing that Dittcmorc had
"retircd" from the board Of directors,
and that this was "wilfully intended
to convey the false impression that he
had voluntarily rcsigncd.' IL charges
further that Dixon, Neal, Merritt and
Rathvon "havc pcrsistently circulated
and caused their agents to circulate
among members of the church through
out the United States false and malic
ous propaganda designed and calcu-
lated seriously to damage this plain
tiff's reputation for integrity, loyalty
and sincerity, and seriously to impair
his standing and influence as a Christ
ian Scientist