New-York tribune., 1920-03-11

Bible lessons are read in the place of
sermons, as in other churches), no irn-
pairment Of the financial position of
the trustees is possible, the reason be-
ing that their profits on the quarterly
alone run over $250,000 a year. Also,
the profits on publishing Mrs. Eddy's
works run almost 100000 year.
"The second argument of justifca-
tion, that the withdrawal of support
will influence the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts, is so unsound and
founded on such ignorance Of judicial
procedure that no. comment Is really
necessary.
THE third argument, that the publi-
cations are 'unauthorized,' is not we'll
founded, since the same editors who
the directors have appointed for years
are still in charge"
Shaken by Agitators
As to the actual schism existing
within the church. Mr.. Dittemore said:
lent Of demonstration, those in touch
with the present situation in the
Christian Science Church throughout
the United States and England might
believe that there is no crisis or
division in Its ranks.
"The fact Of the matter is, however,
that at the time when calm, patient,
constructive thinking and acting are
most needed, the whole Christian
Science movement Is being stirred UP
and manipulated by groups of agita
tors and political opportunists, or by
honest but misled individuals, who fail
to remember the methods and processes
by which all erroneous conditions are
solved in Christian Science, as in the
counsels of Mrs. Eddy, and resort to
the very opposite methods,
"1n every locality where this cam
paign to DESTROY the literature even
before the Supreme Court has fully
heard the case, Is being pressed, are
groups of sane, honest Christian
Scientists, who enter and sustain their
emphatic protest"
Christian Science, in the conviction
OF Mr.. Dittemore, as not on trial now.
nor are it's teachings at the bar Of
human Justice"
The grave problems" he Declares
"in the Christian Science movement
are going to be solved, and solved for
all time, by the establishment Of new
and true point Of view, wherein tradi-
tlon and superstition and greater lib
erty OF thought and action shall dis
solve the present entrenched ecclesias-
ticism in Christian Science organization
and initiate the period Of fulfiment Of
the destiny Of the Church, which its
great founder prophesied for it,"
Great Harm Being Done
Touching on the legality Of the posi-
ton taken by many Christian Scientists
that they ignore the laws of the land
and the judgments Of the courts" Mr..
Dittemore says "the most unfortunate
byproduct of the situation Is the crea-
ton OF suspicion in the mind of the
puollc at large that there is something
IN the teachings of Christian Science
That encourages lawlessness.
=, The very opposite is the fact, and
therefore great harm is being done by
failure to establish at this time by
word and act that Christian Scientists
are law abiding citizens"
The Church." he added, els going
through an experience very much like
what has been the experience Of the
primitive Christian church and every
other rellglous organization since tina.
time.
"The important issue is whether or
not the true spirit Of Mrs. Eddy's
teachings shall survive and be demon
strated or whether the machinery of
this great church organization shall
be controlled by political expediency,
and thereby the spirit of the Church's
teaching strangled and submerged.
AT present the Church membership
is just getting its bearings in the situa-
tion. They are learning to discrimi-
nate between the effort to manipulate
and exploit them, and, on the other
hand, to understand what demands are
upon them regarding the teachings of
the faith"
Mr.. Dittemore said he believed there
would be a showdown which would
bring before the entire 100000 mem
bers Of the denomination a realiza-
tion OF the situation and effect dras-
tic changes in the present administra-
tion.
Next Saturday the petition for in
tervention in the litigation, filed in
the Massachusetts, Supreme Court by
the Christian Science delegates, BODY
said to represent the congregations Of
the faith throughout the State of New
York, will be heard by Justice De
Courcy in Boston.