The Washington times., 1919-04-05
MRS. EDDY'S POLICY
IS CITED IN SUIT

| bOSION1 April 0.-The directors OF
the First Church Of Christ, Scientist,
in their answer to the bill in equity
brought by the trustees OF the Chris
ton Science Publishing Society last
month. seeking to have the directors
restrained from interfering with the
conduct OF the society by the trus-
| tees, declare that the board Of direc-
tors at all times ain fact have exer-
cised supervisory control over the
affairs Of the publishing society and
such control has never been question
ed by the trustees until recently"
| The answer, after enumerating the
changes in the board of trustees, ap-
pointed in 1898 by Mrs. Mary Baker
@. Eddy, founder OF the Christian Sci
ence movement, whereby the member
ship of the board has become entirely
different from that originally ap-
pointed, asserts that Rowlands
ceased to be a trustee" on March II
last. 1T declares that the deed OF
trust contains no provisions for resig-
nations of trustees, and that none OF
the changes in trusteeship occurred
as a result Of "any decree Of any
court" and adds:
Bequeathed Publications.
'If at the instance of the plaintiffs
it be held that said deed OF trust IL
complete instrument within itself
and incapable of being modified or
amended by the action OF Mary Baker
Eddy and the mother church, and that
the power to declare vacancies In
said deed of trust IS not vested in
the Christian Science board OF d.
rectors, then said defendants aver
that none of the plaintiffs ever be-
came trustees under said deed OF
trust"
The answer SAYS that Mrs. Eddy
bequeathed to the mother church
Cthe First Church of Christ Scientist,
of Boston, all Of the publications OF
which she was the sole author. "in
trust for the promoting and extend
ing Of the religion OF Christian Sci
ence as taught by her" Il declares
that 1.-The intent and purpose OF Mrs.
Eddy in the execution Of said trust
instrument was TO make and forever
keep the Christian Science Publishing
Society -" an integral part and
activity OF the mother church.
Deny She Planned Separation.
During the liftime OF Mrs. Eddy"
the answer adds. her intent and pur-
pose were well understood and fully
effectuated Said defendants deny
that II was ever tho purpose OF Mrs.
Eddy to keep the affairs of the pub
fishing society under separate
control and arrangement from that
Of her church, but. on the contrary,
aver her purpose to have been to |
establish and maintain in the mother |
church a unified form Of control over |
all the agencies and departments en-
gagged in the activities originated by |
her"
The answer says that she provided |
in the trust deed that the first mem
bers together with the directors of |
said church should have the power to |
declare vacancies in said trusteeship.
for such reason as to them might
seem expedient."
The answer defines the first mem
bers" as the body Of persons who on
%, 1892, organized the
Mother Church" and says that the
duties. rights and powers OF the first
members have survived to. and have
been for many years and now are,
vested in the board Of directors"
Contend Board Was 10 Govern.
BY means Of bylaws adopted by
tue -hONALNl Chhi III WIN tHt dppEDNdl |
Of Mrs. Eddy, the answer continues:
at was in effect provided that the
control and government Of the
Ihristian Science Publishing Society
and the other Christian Science ac-
Livities established by her as in
.egraI parts Of the Mother Church be
vested in the governing board OF said
church"
The defendants deny that the plain
lifts have at all times zeaIousIy,
and faithfully dis
charged the duties imposed upon
hem by the trust and confidence OF
Mrs. Eddy" or have managed the
solely for the promotion
Ind extension OF the religion of {
christian Science as taught by Mrs {
Eddy They admit that tho finan-
,ial affairs of said society has as a |
whole been successful" but deny that
he success is the result Of the ad-
OF said trust by said
present trustees"
They deny that the trustees have
III worked for the best Interests Of
he Christian Science Church and the
pread Of Christian Science through ]
ut the world"
With regard 10 the allegation n !
he bill OF complaint that more than (
500 Christian Science churches ara ]
n existence and that the defendants q
IRE directors of only one Of these '
he Mother Church, the answer saws, e
hat the Mother Church lis the CEN /
raj organization Of which all the v