The Washington herald., 1920-05-02

xffracted widespread interest," ouI
An former litigation was trivial IN
oourparison with the series OF suits
which now seem to involve the MhoIe
Christian Science structure Ihese
l,xal complications are OF vital m
tsrsst to everyone connected Win
There are at present before the
courts Of Massachusetts, four sepa-
rate and distinct bills in equity. ana
abiu Of complaint arising from an
zfIAeed attempt to nullify the mas
ter,s report on two OF the bills Dur
ing the spring there wore several
unsuecessful attempts to interVene
IN the original suit, ono OF them oy
the attorney general of Massa-
ehusetts-
Supreme Court to Act.
The original suit. known in tho
courts as "Eustacc vs. Dickey, Is
that OF the trustees of the Chrlstlan
Science Publishing Society against
the directors of the Mother Church-
Linked with il by the court order,
which required the two to be heard
together, is the bill in equity OF
John V. Dittemore against the di-
rectors. The report Of the master
who heard the two bills Is to De
passed upon by the full bench OF
the Massachusetts, Supreme Court
In October. The report is in favor
of the plaintiffs in both bills
The other suits have arisen out
of the masters report and the con-
ditions it has caused
One is a bill in equity brought
by the directors asking the courts
to remove all the trustees OF the
publishing society. Another IS
bill brought by Edwin A krauthoH
and Daissy Lowering krauthof as
members of the First Church OF
Christ, Scientist, ito uphold the
manual of the Mother Church.
LAST is the bill Of complaint brought
by the trustees asking that the in
junction of the court restraining
the directors from interfering with
the publishing society, pending the
settlement OF the suits. be extended
to a group of prominent Scientists
whom they allege are damaging the
business of the publishing society.
Claim Supreme Authority.
of course the real controversy
started, admittedly, as dispute be-
tween two boards, the trustees and
the directors. The trustees claim
that under their deed they are
separate and distinct organization,
cooperating with, but not under.
the authority Of the directors. The
directors claim that under the by
laws and manual of the Mother
Church they are the supreme au-
thority over all it's activities. That
is where the trouble begins and
where the rub" comes in.
In order to understand the pres
ent controversy it is necessary to
know just what the two boards are
and when and how they were
formed. The board Of directors of
the Mother Church was created un-
der a deed of trust executed by
Mrs. Eddy September l. 1892. This
deed conveyed to Ira o. Knapp, Of
Boston; William B. Johnson, OF
Boston: Joseph S. Eastman. of Fall
Riyer. Mass. and Stephen \. Chase,
Of Fall River. Mass. certain land
in the Back Bay on which was to
be erected a church building.
It was stated in the deed that
these four men shall be known
as the Christian Science Board of
Directors" In 1908 a bylaw of the
Church Manual was passed by the
directors at the request of Mrs.
member OF the board of directors,
raising the number to five.
Mrs. Eddy Asks Change.
Up to January 10. 1901. the ad-
illustrative authority Of the Chris
tian Science Church was vested
partly in a body known as the First
Members. On that date. at the re-
quest of Mrs. Eddy, a bylaw was
adopted stating that 'the business
Of the Mother Church hitherto
transacted by its First Members
shall be done by its Christian Sci
ence Board of Directors. In 1908
the name Of the First Members was
changed to Executive Members
and in 1908 a bylaw was passed
abolishing the office.
The Christian Science Publishing
Society was established in 1898 by
deed Of trust executed by Mrs.
Eddy January IS of that year. This
Instrument provides that the soci-
ely shall publish the various peri
odicals and books pertaining to the
Christian Science movement, and
shall pay over to the treasurer of
the Mother Church the net profits
OF the business
between the directors and trustee.;
OK the publishing society. which
neen almost weekly increasing in
bitterness, eliminated with the two
actions directly responsible for the
present, litigation
The board Of directors then con-
sisted Of Adam h Dickey, chair
man; James A. Neal and Edward
4 Merritt, OF Brooirlfne, Mass, and
William r. Rathvon and John V,
Dtttsmore. of Boston. Tho trustees
OF the publishing society were Her
bert W. Eustace, Of Boston; David
q. Ogden. Of Boston, and Lamont
Rowlands. OF Picayune. Miss.
Removals are Voted.
At a meeting held on that dav
Mr. Dickey. Mr.. Merritt and MT.
Rathvon voted to remove Mr. Row
lands as q trustee on the grounds
as given In the notice OF dismissal.
later sent to him, that he did not
understand or recognize the impor-
tance and necessity of promoting
the interests Of Christian Science
BY following tho directions given
By Mrs. EDDY in our church by
laws: that he had shown a DISPOSE
tion to invent or adopt fnterpreta-
tions Of our church bylaws that
pervert their meaning and annul
their eject" thai since he had be-
come meIubcr Of tho board ba
tried To change and enlarge the Of
1co Of trustee; that he "and other
persons acting with him, includ:n1 z
several eminent lawyers, waste
fullv eurnloved hava at ~ a.