Article May 7, 1910 Issue

AMONG THE CHURCHES

Correspondence

It is gratifying to be able to report that the work at the county infirmary in this city has been one of unfoldment the past year. During the year 1908 we had held a regular service three Thursday afternoons each month and a testimonial meeting on the fourth Thursday. These meetings were held in the sitting-room of the women's ward, and we could count on about four inmates to attend this service, never more than seven. There was much opposition from the management, and much indifference on the part of the inmates. In fact the question came up among the workers whether it would not be well to discontinue some of the services, and we were advised by the board of directors of our church to put the matter before the inmates, and see what they really wished. As the truth had already been demonstrated in many cases of healing, we found, when the question was put to them, that they were not willing to give up a single service; whereupon they were reminded that there was something for them to do. If they wished the work to go on, they must take a more active part in it. Meanwhile the committee had been studying the definition of church as given in Science and Health (p. 583), for they knew that only as their own understanding was awakened could they hope to arouse the dormant understanding of others. They also knew that the truth was established and that "progress is the law of God" (Ibid., p. 233). From this time on more interest began to be shown. Previously we had to prepare the room ourselves and go around to the different rooms and invite the inmates to attend the service; but after this the room was prepared for us and they were all ready for the service, with an average attendance of twelve.

All that could be done for the men during 1908 was to distribute the literature and to secure permission from the superintendent to sing some of our hymns to them. They gradually became more interested, and by the end of the year they were joining in the singing. The growth for the year 1909 has been marked. We began the year in the men's ward by reading from the Bible and Science and Health, alternately, singing three or four hymns, and closing with the Lord's Prayer, in which all were asked to join. There was the greatest reverence shown during the reading and the repetition of the Lord's Prayer. One man said, "It is a good thing you have us repeat the Lord's Prayer—I have not said it since I was a very little boy. I made a bungle of it the first time I tried it, but I will keep on until I can say it." In a short time we were able to substitute a portion of the Lesson-Sermon, in place of the readings we had been giving them, and this they enjoyed so much that we were soon able to have the greater part of the Lesson-Sermon, opening and closing the service in the regular way. In this way we were conducting two services every Thursday afternoon, as well as a service one Sunday in the month.

At this point it became quite clear that our next step was to work for a service which both men and women could attend, and the way opened beautifully for us. At the close of one of our services the superintendent came and thanked us for the work we were doing for the inmates, saying they were all better for it, and offered us the largest dining-room for our services, with the use of the organ. This room is made ready for us and the bell rung for service, so that the inmates know when to come in, instead of waiting to be invited; and instead of sitting throughout the entire service, most of them now stand for the singing and at the close of service. Our Thanksgiving service was the regular one provided for that day. Our testimonies were good, all expressing their gratitude for the truth. As the time allowed for the service was short, many who desired to speak did not have the opportunity to do so. The following verse was handed me by one who attended our service for the first time on Thanksgiving day:—

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