The New York herald., 1920-01-03
SCIENCE MEMBERS
HERE GIVE SUPPORT
TO MOTHER CHURCH.
Secret Meeting Adopts Resolu-
ton Calling for Action
j Throughout State.

~ hiOoSiAOd Stdt(s
Nearly three thousand members OF the
( Christian Science Churches in New York,
at meeting In the First Church OF
Christ, Scientist. Central Park West and
Ninety-sixth street, last night almost
unanimously passed resolutions standing
by the Board OF Directors Of the Mother
Church In Boston in the litigation with
the Board OF Trustees OF the Publishing
Society. The meeting was for members
Of the Church only. No others were
admitted.
Twenty-three churches of the locality
were represented. The action Of last night
viii be followed by call for convention
Of delegates Of all Christian Scientist
Churches in the State, numbering 1l2, at
which a committee will be appointed to
intervene on behalf OF the Board 81 Direc-
tors
The church was crowded last night. Ex-
traordinary precautions had been taken
that no outsiders should enter Admission
was by card and groups Of members of the
church stood at the inner doors to scrutin-
ice the cards and persons presenting them.
Several were refused admittance and the
corridors of the church were kept clear
until toward the close of the meeting.
William r Best, first reader OF the
church. opened the meeting and then
turned it over to Benjamin F. Bailey. Of
the First Church. The resolutions were
read and when the vote was taken there
was an overwhelming chorus Of ayes. Only
= weak-voiced handful opposed the reso-
lutions.
The resolution read
whereas. Many members OF the Mother
Church have lost confidence in the present
trustees Of the Publicity Society and be-
Keve that their mana cement of its affairs
has been detrimental to the cause Of
Christian Science. and,
Whereas. II has been deemed advisable
that some steps should be taken to safe
guard the interest of the members Of the
Mother Church and to protect their rights
and provide for the unobstructed progress
OF Christian Science, now, therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That it is the sense OF the
members Of the Churches and Societies OF
Christ Scientist. of New York city. here
assembled, that the Board of Trustees of
the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of
New York city, be requested to invite all
of the Christian Scientist churches and
societies throughout the State of New
York to appoint a representative of each
OF said churches and societies and to EN-
power such representatives to meet at
convenient time and place to be deter
mined by the Board of Trustees of the
three largest Christian Scientist churches
Of Greater New York. namely. First
Church Of Christ Scientist, and Second
Church Of Christ. Scientist, Manhattan.
and First Church of Christ, Scientist,
Brooklyn. and inquire into and take legal
or any other action that may seem ad-
vtsable upon the conditions that have
arisen by reason of the recent litigation
involving the Mother Church, the First
Church Of Scientist. Boston, and be it
further
Resolved, That the clerk Of this meet
ing he requested 10 send q copy of these
TO each church and society of
Christ. Scientist. in this State and request
answers thereto TO be sent to said clerk"
This is the first time that the Church
has Indicated that ii is prepared to take
legal action II necessary to back up the
Board Of Trustees of the Mother Church.
The meeting was called at the instance
or Martin r. Jackson. a one-time chap
lain IN the American EXpeditionary Force,
and the resolutions were offered by him.
Albert +. Gilmore, of the Christian
Science Committee on Publication. made
this statement
PLEASE permit me to correct a false
impression conveyed by a statement ap-
pearing this morning relative to the meet
ing. The Christian Science Manual pro-
vides that as Committee on Publication
for the State OF New York. ! am UNDER
the direction OF the Manager of Commit
tees on Publication. Judge Clifford p
Smith. of Boston. No only has Mr.. Smith
had no part In the projection of this
meeting. as 10 intimated, but he has ex-
plictly instructed me to have no part
In any movement looking to the cancel
lation of subscriptions to the Christian
Science periodicals.. II may also be stated
with equal emphasis that the Board of
Directors has had no part I'm the instiga-
ton Of any movement leading TO this
meeting"
The fight of the Board of Directors and
Board of Trustees has extended over many
months. and started when the Board of
Trustees OF the Publishing Society took
exception to suggestions and other activi-
ties OF the Board OF Directors of the
Church In the affairs OF the Publishing So
ciety. The trustees obtained an injunction
forbidding the directors TO interfere with
the work of the Publishing Society, but
some of the directors or their agents have
not followed strictly the injunction.