The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-06-07
DODGE REPORT IN
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
LITIGATION FILED
Judge, Sitting as Master, Ap-
proves and Confirms Position
of J. v. Dittemore.

Boston, Mass.-After over four year,
of litigation In the Christian Scienc,
Church, eX-Federal Judge Dodge O
Boston, sitting as Master under an
pointment of the Supreme Judicia
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 IL
the administration Of the church gov
ernment.
Judge Dodge finds from the evidence,
which includes testimony by the ma
iority 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
soclates. 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..
Dittemore is still legally a Director
and that the effort to remove him and
appoint q successor more sympathetic
with the policy of the board is legally
null and void.
In regard to the illegality Of Mr..
Dittemore's dismissal, Judge Dodge
says that nc Director could fairly be
supposed to have accepted his posi-
ton upon the understanding that he
was subject to instant, arbitrary dis
missa1 whenever a majority of his as
sociates might find it expedient. The
Master finds that the vote attempting
to dismiss Mr.. Dittemore twas only the
formal adoption of a conclusion previ-
OQSly ecu Oll OtiLolu tlC 1ACCtlIS
and that it 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 as would satisfy the re-
quirements of natural justice" He also
finds that the complaints against Mr..
Dittemore were not founded upon first
hand knowledge and were inadequate
ground for any but a purely arbitrary
there was eve any question as to Mr.
Dittemore's sincerity in maintaining his
position and that nothing said or done
by him in maintaining his opinions
could have constituted adequate ground
FOR Diminishing him, unless the major
power to dismiss could lawfully
have been used by it for the sole pur-
pose of sitting any opposition in the
Board to their wishes.
The Master declares that Direc-
-ors Dickey, Neal, Merritt and Rath-
were animated by personal hos
.ility toward Mr.. Dittemore and that
hey had long planned among them
selves to get rid Of him. One of the
occasions when bad feeling was engen-
Tered was when Dittemore refused to
ioin Dickey, Neal, and Merritt In at
ending a play in New York which
Dittemore considered Objectionable and
which had as the leading player a
person Of notorious reputation. On
his occasion Director Merritt testified
hat he urged DittemOre to accompany
hem and said: "Come on with US.
1ou are not so much better than the
est of u.s."
Judge Dodge also finds from the evil
lence that '"There were occasions in
or, 1918 and 1919 upon which, at
neetings of the Directors, the plaintiff
Dittemore) expressed disapproval of
ltterances by Dickey of a kind toler-
BILE only when men only, and men not
disposed to be scrupulous in such mat
ers, are the hearers-thereby arous-
az resentment on Dickey's part, and
ometimes on the part of Merritt and
sathvon." The testimony regarding
light or nine such instances was taken
Y Judge Dodge in private. In regard
} all of these occurrences Judge
lodge finds from the testimony Of
Ir. Dittemore and others, including
he cross-eXamination of the defendant,
directors Dickey, Neal, Merritt and
.athvon themselves, that Mr.. Ditto
lore's account of them was substan-
ally true and that his repeated in
.stence upon a standard Of propriety
/ language or conduct s%tricter than
accepted by his associates mate
ally augmented their hostility and
Judge Dodge concludes that Ditto
ores co-Directors were incapable,
l March II, 1919, of impartial judi
al consideration Of accusations
sainst him, especially of accusations
AIMED by themselves, had they ever
1dertaken any such consideration"
At the present time Christian Scien-
throughout the world are deeply
terested in the facts brought cut by I
e Dodge report which Mr.. Dittemore ;
ID others are distributing in large /
lantities among the membership. )
The progressive element in the /;