The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-27
BIG SCRAP IN COURT over CONTROL
OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS

BOSTON. March os.-LitiEation has
been started in the Massachusetts SUI
nrerna court in an effort to determine
which Of two sets Of trustees appointed
by tho late Mrs. Mary Baker q. Eddy.
has authority over thr ThriStion Science
Publishing Society On petition * thS
trustees OF the society the court has is-
sued a temporary injunction restrain
ing the directors Of she MASSACHUSETTS,
First Church OF Christian Scl"nc" .r"nl
any action intended To interior" with
the trustees In the discharge Of their
duties and frrm attempting to compel
any Of the trustees to resign.
The bill sets forth that Mrs. Eddy.
as founder Of the Christian Scisnc"
movement, determined TO put into tn"
hands Of different sets Of trustees the
organization OF Christian Sct"ncs
churches and the work OF circulating
Christian Science publications. 1t de-
clares that the trustees Of the publish
ing society have held and managed tn"
oroperty which came 10 them under the
decd Of trust 1898 "eNclusirely for the
purposes declared and defined th'Crin
and solely for the promotion and "Nten-
sion Of the religion of CHRISTIAN Science
as taught by Mrs. Eddy.
The plaintiffs essrrt that the affairs
of the society have been highly pros
ncrous and successful" and that they
have paid over 20 tho defendants in
their capacities NOR" than Si3h.hoN Tor
a period Of six months ending October
10, 1918. They point out that IN" DC
PENDANTS are directors only ot tho First
church, known as The mother cnurch'
and have no official control OF the
more than 1900 other EhriSNah ScicHc''
churches and societies.
They declare that thH directors since
the death OF Mrs. Eddy HAY" been
gradually endcavorinR [" aSSum" ana
exercise powers with regard 70 III" pub
fishing society which tn" directors
never assumed or attempted I" exercise
during the liz" of Mrs. Eddy.
Within the last f"w months plaintiffs
say. the directors har: r"p"a;"diy in
sisted that tho board of trustees ("c the
publishing society should nlk" "n"n.
specific and public acknowledgements
that tho directors w"r" tn" supreme and
final authority with r"t"r"n"'' 1" all
of tho affairs OF tho Publishing society
and the management "f tn" trust "r"a-
ted BY tho trust d""d of iS"S.
The plaintiffs say thar upon IN" nd
vice Of counsel they refused !" make
SlIch 'tl'N '''''S
January last tn" directors d"manf"i
that the trustees of tha publishing
society resign.
The Bill Of complaint then, r"";t"s an
opinion submitted I" counsel. t"r th''
directors. John l.. Rates clifford +.
smith, Leon NJ. Abbott and Edwin \.
ErauthoT. by counsel for IN" trustees
or tho society. Charles r.. Hughes. Sil2s
n S,rawn and sherman l.. Whrpl". T"
70 me effect that ths directors Ear" no
authority 10 order the resignation "r
the trustees.
The plaintiffs say that ~ c"nt"renc's
held in an attempt 10 harn"fi%' 'hH
,,;rerent views tho directors "inS'st"d
, condition Of ths:r continuing /" h"lt
,hoir offices that tho plaintiffs Sh"nid
explicitly and IN writing r"pudlat" th'
advice and opinion OF their council.
The bill says :ha' II" directors on
March II attempted II r"n"r" MT
Rnn,lands as trustee and declare his
office vacant by serving him with no.
ttce OF dismissal. and on the next DAY
demanded that tho remaining trustees
nnpoint as his successor n person VINO
shall be suitable and satisfactory ["
The board OF directors"
The plaintiffs declare that the d'rsc1,
ors in seeking Mr.. Rowlands' dismissal
arc making IAN arbitrary and capric-
ious attempt to exercise n fancled
power which does not exist and that