New-York tribune., 1920-12-10
Science Church
Reinstates 70
By Court Order
Trustees of Congregation at
Goth Street ana Ientrai
Park West Don't Fight
Case to Avoid Publicity
Mandamus Writs Granted
All Expelled Members Said
to Have Been Followers
of Stetson Teaching g $

ru.r+v-six expelled members Of the
r.. church of Christ Scientist, at
CENTRAL Park West and NinetySsixth
street. obtained writs of mandamus
from Justice Cohalan in the Supreme
Court Yesterday, directing the trustees
uf the church to reinstate them.
There was no argument in court on
+he merits of the claim Of the expelled
members for reinstatement, the church
+rustees consenting to the granting
OF the wrlts.
This move. it is understood, was
taken to prevent the public airing of
the differences that exist in the First
Church. which it appears is not sup
norted in this matter by the Mother
Church in Boston.
While the ostensible reason given
nv the trustees of the First Church. in
.hoir notifications to the twenty-six
that they had been dropped from the
churh membership, was that they had
failed to be regular in their attendance
at meetings, the real reason for this
action, It was said, was due to the fact
that those expelled were followers of
the teachings Of Mrs. Augusta E.
Stetson.
Mother Church's View
Mrs. Stetson was recognized by many
members as the successor Of Mary Bak-
erG. Eddy, as head of the church. She
was expelled from the First Church in
Boston, but her teachings are still
recognized. A provision in the bylaws
of the First Church in New York says
that any person following the teachings
of person who has been expelled from
the Mother Church shall be expelled.
This provision, however, was not in
voked in the expulsion of the twenty
six.
The attitude of the Mother Church
may be indicated by the statement
made last evening at the Christian
Science Bureau of Publication that the
action of First Church was "hasty and
ill-advised' and that the church had
not given "a very satisfactory explana-
ton"
1t was explained that all the ex-
PEELED members had been notified that
they were restored to membe rship and
good standing, which will permit them
to participate in the election next
Tuesday of first reader and second
reader of the church. The present
readers are William R. Best, first,
and Miss Presby. second.
One of the explanations by the
board of trustees of the expulsion of
the twenty-six members was that it
was the result of an annual revision
Or the membership. The board of
trustees, whose action was attacked,
are: Galen Harris, chairman; Louis
Lowy, Charles F. Brown, Van Can
tern. j. W Marshall, Miss Ida NJ
Titus, Mrs. Lucy Sheldon and Mrs.
Richard P. Verrall. Mr.. Harris said
last evening:
81 don't consider that there is any
split in the unified church"
The complaint of the members
dropped from the rolls, which in each
case is supported by an affidavit by
Euphenlia Holden, member in good
attendance did not hold, and that they
have been liberal contributors to thS
church and its various activities. IT
was also charged that the membership
of the church had been reduced to 500
and that the board of trustees was
trying to control the membership, ex-
pelling those who might interfere with
this plan. On the other hand, Mr.
Harris said, that the congregation OF
the First Church was a transient one
and that many members are dropped
each year.
Members Not Heard
Mr.. Harris would not say that the
twenty-six complaining members were
not properly expelled, but that perhaps
It was not done as it should have been
done, in that the deposed members
were not given ar opportunity to be
heard OF any charges He said that al
together ffty had been expelled, but
mat not ali Of them had joined in the
court proceeding TO compel their rein