Evening star., 1919-04-05
D|RECTORSANSWER
IN SCIENTIST RIFT
Officials of First Church Say
Control But Recently
Questioned.
By the Associated Press,

| By the Associated Press
| bOSION, April 5.-The directors Of
| the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in
their answer to the bill in equity
i brought by the trustees of the Christian
Science Publishing Society last month,
seeking to have the directors restrained
from interfering with the conduct of the
society by the trustees. declare that the
board of directors at all times. sin fact,
nave exercised supervisory control over
the affairs Of the publishing society and
Dy the trustees until recently
Inc answer was filed in the state su-
preme court late yesterday. The court
Issued a temporary injunction on March
20. pending hearing.
ihe answer. after enumerating the
changes in the board of trustees, ap-
pointed in 1898 by Mrs. Mary Baker u.
EDDY. founder Of the Christian Science
movement. whereby the membership of
the board has become entirely different
from IRON that originally appointed, asserts
that Lamond Rowlands ceased to- be a
trustee" on March II last. 1t declares
that the deed of trust contains no pro-
VISIONS for designations of trustees and
that none of the changes in trusteeship
occurred as a result Of "any decree of
any court and adds:
If at the instance of the plaintiffs
1T be held that said deed of trust is
a 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 directors.
then said defendants aver that none
of the plaintiffs ever became trustees
under said deed of trust"
As to Mrs Eddy's Bequest.
The answer says that Mrs. Eddy
bequeathed to the mother church (the
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" 1t 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 Publish
ing Society an integral part
and activity of the mother church"
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 reasons as to them might
seem expedient:" 1t defines the first
who on September %, 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"
What Bylaws Provided.
By means of bylaws adopted by
The mother church, with the approval
IF Mrs. Eddy, the answer continues,
1T was in effect provided that the
control and government of the Chris
ian Science Publishing Society and
he other Christian Science activities
established by her as integral parts |
If the mother church be vested in |
he governing board of said church"
The defendants deny that the plain !
iffs have at all times zealously. con-
'cientiously and faithfully discharged |
he duties imposed upon them by the !
rust and confidence of Mrs. Eddy" |
they admit that 1.-The financial affairs |
# said society have as a whole been |
uccessfu1." but deny that the sue
ion Of said trust by said present trus-
ees."
They deny that the trustees have all |
worked "for the best interests of the !;
christian Science Church and the spread /
4 Christian Science throughout the |
world"
Control Of Churches.
With regard to the allegation in the
ill of complaint that more than 1900
christian Science churches are in exist
nee and that the defendants are direc-
ors of only one Of these, the mother
hurch, the answer says, that the
mother church 'is the central organiza-
ION Of which all the other Christian
cience churches and societies are
ranches"
The defendants deny that their notice
+ dismissal sent to Trustee Rowlands
;as in pursuance of a plan to dominate
he publishing society ''in derogation of
he terms of the trust deed.'' They
eny the allegation that they have
threatened to make the publishing So
iety IAN empty SHE'LL" and say it has
lways been their endeavor to promote
he business of the society "as an in
egral activity Of the mother church."