New-York tribune., 1920-03-13
Science Church
Schism Blamed
On Director
General Welfare Committee
Report Declares Board
Wholly Responsible for
Factional Difficulties
Local Laity Surprised
Findings Being Printed
for Distribution Among
the 1900 Congregations

What is regarded as the most i'm
portant development thus far in the
schism between factions of the Chris
tian Science Church are the findings,
the nature Of which became known
yesterday, Of the committee on general
welfare, appointed by authority of the
board Of directors at the Church's an
nual meeting in Boston last year, to
inquire into alleged abuses in the
Church government.
These findings, it was disclosed,
place practically all responsibility sfor
the present situation in the Church at
the door Of the board Of directors. The
results of the committees study and
lnvestlgation. extending over several
months, constitute a report which has
already been turned in to the board
of directors and is now in the hands
Of printers for distribution within the
Church at an early date.
Inc nature OF the report was . COM
Ple1e surprise to members of the faith
mere, who got their first information
oi IL from a representative OF The
Inoune yesterday. It was said with
OUT quahhcatlon that the situation thus
engendered will have q far-reachinp
effect upon the future of the ChurcS
ana irs present form Of government.
Message Tells of Report
News that this report had been. form
alated came with the receipt Of the
foilowlng message from q prominent
member. Of the church in Chicago bv
one VINO IS In intimate touch with af-
ialrs or the denomination affected bv
the lltlgatlon centering around the di.
4 rectors of the Mother Church in Sos
ten:
r.. Chicago, March IL.
AS result of meeting of First,
Second and Seventh churches hers
TUESDAY night and Fifth Church to-
nIght, sentiment has turned COM
pIeteiy against any participation IN
me delegates plan of New York
State. Almost unanimous refusal on
part OF joint conference Of Tuesday
TO cal! convention of churches in Illi-
mons TO participate in plan similar
to that of New York, and total de-
termination rot to support Hulin
SUIT Jacob Shields, member of the
committee on general welfare. invited
to address Tuesday night meetinr.
spoke at length, advising against
contemplated action and foresnad-
owed forthcoming report welfare
, hands and to be distributed within
week. Indicates findings of commit
tee majority report place RESPONSE
pillty TOR present conditions. includ-
ing those in publishing house, upon
directors. Strongly advised against
dlScontlnulng literature, and as re-
: suit his talk churches voted to stand
by publications"
> Richard P. VerraIl, of this city.
: chairman of the committee, which Is
composed Of himseIr and six other
!, members, including Mr. Shields OF
Chicago, did not deny last night that
1ne .e report was against the board of
directors. Neither did he say the find
angs were IN favor of the directors.
Bound to Secrecy
When asked over the telephone, after
the foregoing telegram had been read
to him, if the facts would justify pub
!lcation of the informa ton contained
IN the message, he said the members
OF the committee were bound by the
injunction granted the trustees Of the
publishing society against the direc-
tors. not to divulge the contents Of
the report to discuss them.
Asked If TIE report included a des-
lgnation of the trustees functions ir
their relations with the directors and
II it was found that the directors
should no longer endeavor to exercise
control over affairs of the publishing
TO~4Sss 49, SI al SdIU he Qlu not
think the report was quite that dras-
tic'
1t would probably be three weeks.
~ said, before the report would be
ready for distribution. The report will
be sent to each of the denomination's
l800 churches throughout the world.
The. faith has it's most notable follow
ing in this country and in England
When the committee on general well
ware was alectad las$
into the troubled affairs Of the church.
Christian Scientists who wanted to see
immediate reforms effected in the
cEurch's administration were sur
prised to learn of the directors posi-
tion that it would be unwse to con-
duct the investigation, in view of the
legal proceedings and resultant injunc-
ton against themselves, since the di-
rectors had themselves authorized the
committees formation. It was known,
however, that the membership Of the
committee as whole was not satis-
factory to the board.
Members of Committee
The committee met in Boston last fall
for the first time, and has been in seq
sicr regularly since. The work was
completed several days ago. The mem
hers and the cities they represent are
Richard P. Verrall, New York City,
Jacob 5. Shields. Chicago; Mrs. Mabel
s. Thomson. London; Edward w.
Dickey, Los Angeles; Mrs. Martha viii
cox, Kansas City; Henry Deutsch, Min
neapolis, and Edward Everett Norwood,
WaShington.
What is said to have aroused more
criticism of the directors than any
thing else on the part of the members
Of the church was the directors al
legged policy of secrecy in relation to
the church govTnment.
A. Sl n nN0 70.