The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
INQUIRY OPENED
District Attorneys Office
Hears Testimony Of Seven
Others Heard Monday.
DECLINES TO GIVE NAMES
Responsibility Sought for
Theft Of Papers From Office
Of Former First Reader.

An investigation into charges made
against members of the Christian Science
denomination by Campbell MacCuiloch'
former first reader of First Church OF
Christ, Scientist was begun yesterday py
Alexander I. Rorke, Assistant District
Attorney Seven of the Scientists went
to Mr. Rorke's office In the CRIMINAL
Courts Building upon his invitation and
were questioned by him. He Will ex-
anime another group tomorrow and
third on Tuesday. BY Wednesday he eX-
poets to have made up his mind whether
there is any evidence which should be
presented to the Grand Jury.
Six of the seven persons invited to
meet Mr. Rorke were Albert F. Gilmore
Of the Christian Science committee on
publication SO Vanderbilt avenue Mar?
tin F. Jackson of sol Fifth avenue, a
practitioner and teacher and chairman
of the Christian Science delegates; Will
lam r. Best, first reader of First
Church; Galen M. Harris, chairman of
the board of trustees; b. Palmer Lewis
of 440 Riverside Drive. treasurer of the
Christian Science delegates, and George
Jenkins, a member of the church, who is
head ia department in a department
store.
After the interviews Mr. Rorke said
only this: ''1n view of the nature of the
charges, the District Attorneys office
believes it advisable not to make public
the charge or the names of any persons
alleged to be guilty of wrongdoing at the
present time. This is for the reason that
it frequently happens that persons who
are named are found upon investigation
to have' had nothing to do with the
charges and an unfortunate stima is
placed upon them, and for the further
reason that the publication of names and
charges might hinder n proper investi
cation by the office of the District At
.torney."
Mr. MacCulloch said on Friday that
he had resigned from First Church in
order to be free to appeal to the authori-
ties to determine the responsibility for
the rifing of his office at 1863 Broadway
and the theft of papers which were later
used, he said, to injure him. He also
said in letter that it might be neces-
sary to start an action for criminal libel
against two trustees and sixteen other
members Of the church unless the at
tacks upon him ceased. Neither Mr.
MacCulloch nor Mr. Rorke would indi-
cate yesterday the precise line of the
present inquiry.
Mr.. MacCuloch sent this letter to THE
NEW YORK HERALD:
I'm your issue of this morning appears
n portion of my statement concerning
the situation in First Church of Christ,
Scientist, of this city. In justice to my
self and those in authority in this
church, may l state that l have at all
times been unalterably opposed to the
policies and practices of Mrs Stetson
that resulted in her dismissal from First
Church here and the Mother Church In
Boston, and that am still opposed to
those policies and practices?
"Three years ago this month l out
lined to the Christian Science Board OF
Directors in Boston exactly the plan OF
expulsion OF the adherents of Mrs. Stet-
son that the trustees of First Church
hore have put into effect, and have not
changed my belief in the necessity for
such an action. At that time the Chris
tian Science Board of Directors coun-
selled caution and while now approve
the idea of Kidding the church of those
out OF sympathy with 1t, do think that
this is not the time to act in that direc-
ton. While / have resigned from First
Church of Christ, Scientist, here so that
1 may be free to take personal action. ]
have only the most sincere desire for its
welfare"