Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-29
Christian Science
Church Differences
Before Court Today

Boston, Nov. 29.--The controversies
within the Christian Science church
came before the full bench Of the Su-
preme Court of Massachusetts, today,
for arguments on questions Of law.
The disputed points largely represent
ed exceptions taken to the findings of
Judge Frederic Dodge. who, as mas
ter in the original suit brought by the
trustees of the Christian Science Pub
fishing Society against the board of
directors OF the church. sustained the
plaintiffs in their main contentious.
Since the litigation began in March,
1919, it has assumed various phases
through intervening suits, but broadly
speaking the outstanding issue is
whether the authority of the board of
directors of the Christian Science
church extends over the trustees of the
publishing society, which publishes
the Christian Science Monitor and
other church periodicals. Judge Dodge
held that it did not.
The arguments will occupy the time
of the court today and tomorrow, the
total of 10 hours allotted being divided
among counsel.
Although not consolidated, the
docket contains six cases, which were
to be heard in sequence. First to be
argued was the suit of the trustees Of
the Christian Science Publishing So
ciety against the Directors of the
Christian Science church, in which the
plaintiffs ask that the respondents be
cnjoined from interfering with the af-
fairs of the Publishing Society. The
trustees claim that under a deed of
trust made by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy,
founder Of the church, they are indie
pendent of control by the directors.
who. in the exercise of powers which
they maintain are conferred under an
other deed of truet made by Mrs. Eddy
and in conformity with the plan of
church government which they main
tain was laid down by Mrs. Eddy in
the church manual. have sought to re-
move Lamont Rowlands from his Of
flee as trustee.
Judge Dodge. who heard the evil
dence, held that the directors did not
have authority TO remove Rowlands,
and that such removal could be made
only by the concurrent action of the
directors and the First Members of
The First Church of Christ. Scientist.
in Boston (The Mother church,. The
First Members on January 10. 1901,
adopted bylaw transferring all their
powers to the directors, and whether
they can now regain their former
status in an issue before the court
Although bill in equity brought by
John v. Dittemore, who was removed
by the directors, to compel the latter
to recognize him as fellow member of
their board. was not fully heard by
Judge Dodge. he decided the removal
of Dittemore was illegal. This rul-
ing is among the exceptions taken by
counsel for the directors to report Of
the master.
Former Governor John L. Bates, who
was allotted two hours. appeared to ar
que exceptions tor the directors and a
similar length of time was given to
counsel for the trustees. Charles e.
Hughes was expected to address the
court in support OF the report Of Judge
Dodge.
Charles F. Choate, Jr.. on behalf of
Mrs. Emile b. Hulin Of Brooklyn, n.
Y, whose petition to intervene in the
suit of the trustees against the direc-
tors was denied by Judge Pierce of the
Supreme Court. will argue that Mrs.
Hulin. who is one of the original First
Members OF the Christian Science
Church. should become a party to the
suit of the trustees. The contention
Of Mrs Hulin IS that the church Man
ual is the supreme. law of the Mother
Church: that the Manual in all re-
spects is final authority over all mem
bers of the Mother Church. including
the First Members and the trustees of
the publishing Society: and that the
manual controls the provisions of all
deeds of trust and other written docu-
ments Of Mrs. Eddy which may seem
in conflict with it. But If the powers
Of the trustees are broader than is
provided by the church Manual, or if
the directors without joint action by
the First Members have not the power
to declare vacancies in the trusteeship.
then Mrs. Hulin asserts the right Of
the First Members to take such ac-
ton as may result in the effective ex-
ercfse of the powers of the directors
in removing trustees.
State Attorney General j. Weston
Allen will ask the court to declare that
under the will OF Mrs. Eddy public
charitable trust was created when The
First Church Of Christ. Scientist, was
established; that the trust was organ
lied and existed under the usage and
discipline Of the church. as set forth
in the Manual for the promotion and
extension of the religion of Christian
Science. The Attorney General wishes.
all issues raised in other suits tried
out lin his information. as the multi
plicity of suits, he says. will result in
great waste OF the substance of the
subsidiary charitable trust and a great
loss to the dominant charitable trust,
the Mother Church. Mr.. Allen further
asks the court to. hold that the tirec-
tors are the governing body of the
church and have power to declare va
cancies In the trusteeships OF the pub
fishing society and to determine what
literature shall be published.
Other matters before the court are
the bills Of Daisy and Edwin A.
KrauthoR prociaiming the Manual as
the supreme authority Of the church:
and Of the trustees Of the Publishing
Society to restrain individual members
Of the Mother Church from influencing
other members 10 cancel subscriptions
to Christian Science publications.