The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-06-22
DODGE REPORT in y
:: CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
/. y LITIGATION FILED
Judge, Sitting as Master, Ap.
proves and Confirms Position
of ]. v. Dittemore.

Court of Massachusetts, has filed his
final report. on the evidence. The
plaintiff, John V. Dittemore, the senior
Director of the Church, whose service
antedates the decease of Mrs. Mary
Baker Eddy, and who his associates
sought to remove from office, seems
to have been completely justified In his
contentious that undesirable and I'M
wholesome conditions have existed in
the administration Of the church gov
eminent.
Judge Dodge finds from the evidence,
which includes testimony by the ma
| Jority Directors themselves, that Mr.
| Dittemore's dismissal was for the pur-
pose OF doing away with opposition to
the wishes Of the majority and also
because Mr.. Dittemore had sought to
establish a standard OF propriety and
conduct higher than desired by his as
sociates. 1t Is also found that a prin-
cipal reason for the hostility to Mr..
Dittemore was because Of his rebuke
to his associates on numerous occa-
sions when offensive language was
used and offensive jests made at meet
ings of the governing body Of the
church. Judge Dodge holds that Mr..
Dittemors Is still legally a Director
and that the effort to remove him and
appoint 4 successor more sympathetic
with the policy of the board is legally
null and void
In regard to the illegality of Mr..
IlftfAmnro's T,,I
says that no Director could fairly be
supposed to have accepted his posi-
ton upon the understanding that he
was subject to instant, arbitrary dis |
missal whenever majority of his as
sociates might ind 1t expedient The |
Master hnds that the vote attempting |
to dismiss Mr.. Dittemore twas only the |
formal adoption Of 4 conclusion previ.
susly agreed on outside the meeting
and that 1t was for his associates, then
accusing him and at the same time pro-
posing to also act as his judges, to
AFFORD him such opportunity to be
heard In his own defense upon the
charges made az would satisfy the re-
quirsnsnts Of natural Justice" He also
ands that the complaints against Mr..
Oittemore were not founded upon first
hand knowledge and "were inadequate
ground for any but purely arbitrary
dismissal" The Judge also finds that
here was never any question as to Mr..
)ittemore's sincerity in maintaining his
position and that nothing said or done
~ him In maintaining his opinions {
'ould have constituted adequate ground 1
or Diminishing him, unless the major I
tvs power to dismiss could lawfully G
lave been used by 1t for the sole pur- c
'ose of sitting any opposition in the
,oard to their wishes l
The Master declares that Direc-
ors Dicksy, Neal Merritt and Rath-
'on were animated by personal hos
ility toward Mr.. Dittemore and that I
hey had long planned among them
elves to get rid Of him. One Of the
occasions when bad feeling was engen-
lered was when Dittemore refused to =
DIN Dickey. Neal, and Merritt in at
ending q play In New York which
Nttemore considered Objectionable and
which had as the leading player
ersOn OF notorious reputation. On
his occasion Director Merritt testified
hat he urged Dittemore to accompany
hem and said: "Come on with us.
,ou are not so much better than the
est Of u.s."
Judge Dodge also finds from the evil
ence that There were occasions In
OFT, 1918 and 1919 upon which, at
leetings Of the Directors, the plaintiff
expressed disapproval Of
tterances by Dickey Of kind toler.
Bile only when men only, and men not
ispOsed to be scrupulous in such mat
srs, are the hearers-thereby arous-
lg resentment on Dickey's part, and
ometimes on the part Of Merritt and
.athvon." The testimony regarding
ght or nine such instances was taken
: Judge Dodge in private. In regard
all Of these occurrences Judge
odge finds from the testimony of
r. DittemOre and others, including
10 crOss-examinatiOn of the defendant,
irectors Dickey, Neal, Merritt and
Rthvon themselves, that Mr.. Ditto
ores account of them was substan-
ally true and that his repeated in
stence upon q standard Of propriety
language or conduct stricter than
at accepted by his associates mate
ally augmented their hostility and
slike."
Judge Dodge concludes that Ditto
,rs's co-Directors were incapable,
March IT, 1919, Of impartial judi
Il consideration Of accusations
ainst him, especially Of accusations
lmed by themselves, had they ever
dertakea any such consideration"
At the present time Christian Scien-
to throughout the world are deeply
crested In the facts brought out by
, Dodge report which Mr.. Dittemore
d others are distributing In large
antilles among the membership.
The progressive element in the
urch seems to BE- gaining much
'sngth. 1t urges a more consistent
d practical Interpretation Of the
lchings Of Mrs Eddy by those In
thority and a more liberal admins
ltion Of the church government
1t to q change In the offlcial per
mel In Boston, under q Definite rule
rotation in ONCE. the greatest need
the Church seems to be for the en-
nrn 1Nmeut ~ RrNntnv 1orA1 Church