Editorial February 15, 1913 Issue

LITIGATION AT AN END

Editor

At the time Mrs. Eddy's will was probated, a little over two years ago, it was found to contain, among other provisions, one creating a trust fund to be used for the promulgation of the religion of Christian Science, as follows:—

"I give, bequeath, and devise all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, of every kind and description, to The Mother Church—The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, in trust ... for the purpose of more effectually promoting and extending the religion of Christian Science as taught by me."

Notwithstanding Mrs. Eddy's express wish as to the disposition of her estate, as above set forth, together with her previous liberal arrangement for her son and adopted son, in full of their share of her estate, on the condition that her will be not contested by them, suits were immediately commenced in their names for the purpose of defeating this provision of the will and obtaining possession of her entire estate. In these suits the Supreme Court of New Hampshire sustained the validity of the will in every particular. In Massachusetts the Supreme Court sustained the validity of the trust created by the will of Mrs. Eddy, but declared any church in Massachusetts incapable of taking so large a bequest, because of a Massachusetts statute which dates back to colonial times, but which had never previously been adjudicated. This disability on the part of The Mother Church will be removed, so far as this bequest is concerned, by an act which has passed both houses of the Massachusetts Legislature and awaits the signature of the Governor. The provisions of the act are as follows:—

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