Arizona republican., 1919-04-05
ANSWER FILED
 BY SCIENTISTS
 AGAINST BOARD
The Publications of the Soci- ety, the Directors Allege, Are the Property of Moth CT Church Bequeathed by Mrs. Eddy
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

 BOSTON, April 4.-The directors of the First Church of Christ Scientist, in their answer to the bill in equity brought by the trustees of the Chris tian 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 ''in fact have exercised su pervisory control over the affairs of the publishing society and such con- trol has never been questioned by the trustees until recently" The answer was filed in the state supreme court late today The court issued a tenn porary injunction March 25, pending a hearing. John V. Littemore, who was named as a defendant, did not sign the answer in which it was said that March r last, Dittemore ceased TO be a director and was succeeded by Mrs. Knott. The bill of complaint said that the other directors have re- moved Dittemore and appointed Mrs. Knott, claiming to act under authority to do so ''and that the plaintiffs did not know whether Dittemore or Mrs. Knott lis now the duly appointed trustee"
 The answer, after enumerating the 1 changes in the board of trustees ap- | pointed in 1898 by Mrs. Mary Baker c. 1 Eddy, founder of the Christian Science movement, whereby the membership of | the board has become entirely differ 1 ent from that originally appointed, asserts that Lamond Rowlands of Pic | ayune, Miss, ceased to be a trustee March IT last. It declares that the 1 deed of trust contains no provisions 1 for resignations of trustees and that none of the changes in trusteeship occurred as a result of 'any decree of any court" and adds:
 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 1 author, in trust for the promoting and extending of the religion of Christian Science as taught by her" It declares | that ''the intent and purpose of Mrs Eddy in the execution of said trust instruments was to make and forever | keep the Christian Science Publishing society an integral part l and activity of the mother church.
 During the lifetime of Mrs. Eddy. the answer adds, "her intent and pur-
 
 effectuated." The answer says tha she provided in the trust deed "tha the first members together with tn. directors of said church should hay, the power to declare vacancies in sai, trusteeships for such reasons as migh seem eXpedient.
 The answer defines the first mem bers" as "the body of persons wh, September 23, 1892, organized tn mother church, and says that "th duties, rights and powers of the frs members have survived to and hay been for many years and now are , vested iii the board of directors" By means of bylaws adopted b, the mother church, with the approva 1 of Mrs. Eddy, the answer continues 1 Tt was in effect provided that tn
 control and government of the Chris tian Science Publishing society and tn
 other Christian Science activities es
 tablished by her as integral parts c } the mother church be vested in tn
 governing board of said church." } The defendants deny that the plain tiffs ''have at all times Zealously, con
 sciertiously and faithfully discharge the duties imposed upon them by tn
 trust and confidence of Mrs. Eddy : or have managed the property "solel for the promotion and extension of th religion of Christian Science as taugf by Mrs. Eddy" They admit that ''tf
 financial affairs of said society hay :, as whole been successful" but den ,, that the success is the result of u
 administration of said trust by sal
 present trustees" They deny that u
 trustees have all worked flor the be- ! interests of the Christian Scient |, church throughout the world