The Christian Science Publishing Society has received inquiries with regard to circular letters recently sent out from Worcester, Massachusetts, in relation to a book to be issued describing "The War Time Activities of the Christian Science Movement."

In times past the branch churches and reading rooms have encountered embarrassments in connection with unauthorized literature sent out either by those seeking profit or by those acting, we assume unwittingly, in violation of the wishes and directions of our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, to whom the authorization of Christian Science literature was a matter of supreme moment. The circulars regarding which inquiries have been made undoubtedly represent an enterprise of the latter class.

We print herewith, for the information of the Field, the correspondence on the subject which has passed between the Christian Science Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees of the Publishing Society:

September 18, 1919.

Christian Science Board of Directors, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

Our attention has been called to circular letters purporting to come from the "office of the Corresponding and Financial Secretary" of the "Christian Science War Relief Committee," in relation to a book to be issued describing "The War Time Activities of the Christian Science Movement."

The circulars, which state that the book is being printed by the "Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut," are apparently sent out from Worcester, Mass., although they bear the heading of the "Christian Science War Relief Committee," having offices in the Little Building, in Boston.

The circulars state that the book "is gotten out by The Mother Church War Relief Committee," and the local committees for War Relief work are solicited to undertake to sell these books. The suggestion is made that informal meetings of the congregations should be called after Wednesday evening meetings, at which the book shall be explained, and members of the Church and congregations solicited to purchase it.

Nothing is said in the circular as to where the net profits of the undertaking are going, but the Field are left to assume, apparently erroneously, that they will go to The Mother Church. The circulars are equally consistent with the profits going to individuals masquerading under the authority of The Mother Church and purporting to act in its behalf.

If this undertaking were really an activity of The Mother Church, of course it would come to the Publishing Society and be issued authoritatively and in a way to make it admissible to Christian Science reading rooms. The fact that it is not so issued is a clear indication that the publication is spurious.

At first reading, it occurred to us that you might have authorized this undertaking, but upon reflection it was clear that you could not have done it. In the first place, the circular lacks that dignity of expression coming from The Mother Church. You would scarcely have authorized the huckstering of a book at sacred meetings of worship, especially a book which, under the Manual, could not be admitted to our reading rooms. Furthermore, you, of course, would never have authorized a proceeding so clearly in violation of the injunction which has been issued in the pending suit. It is so clear that this undertaking would be construed as a step in carrying out the threat alleged in the bill to make the Publishing House an "empty shell," that we could not for a moment continue to entertain the thought that you would be guilty of an action so plainly in contempt.

It is clear that something should be done to let the Field know that this proposition is entirely without the authority of the Christ Science Board of Directors or of the Trustees of the Publishing Society; that the publication therefore is spurious, and that the Field should be on their guard against it.

It is a matter that you are interested in alike with the Trustees. May we depend upon you to take this action, or would you recomment that we do it? Sincerely yours,
Board of Trustees,
(Signed) Herbert W. Eustace, Secretary.

Board of Trustees, September 22, 1919.

The Christian Science Publishing Society,
107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Gentlemen:

The Christian Science Board of Directors instructs me to say in reply to your favor of September 18, relative to the report of the Christian Science War Relief Committee, that a letter on the subject will reach you at an early date.

Sincerely yours,
(signed) Chas. E. Jarvis,
Corresponding Secretary for The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Board of Trustees, September 24, 1919.

The Christian Science Publishing Society,
107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

The Christian Science Board of Directors instructs me to send you this letter in answer to your letter of last Thursday.

The Directors of The Mother Church have not approved any circular letter pertaining to the report in book form to which your letter refers. They have requested the withdrawal of all such circular letters, and have asked Mr. Harsch to come to Boston for a conference on the subject in question.

Sincerely yours,
(Signed) Chas. E. Jarvis,
Corresponding Secretary for The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Board of Trustees, September 25, 1919.

The Christian Science Publishing Society,
107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

The Christian Science Board of Directors instructs me to say in further reply to your favor of September 18 that it has been decided that the report of the War Relief Committee of The Mother Church will not be issued in book form now.

Sincerely yours,
(Signed) Chas. E. Jarvis,
Corresponding Secretary for The Christian Science Board of Directors.

The above letters will serve to indicate the unanimous action of the two Boards in conforming to the wishes and directions of our Leader.

The Christian Science Publishing Society.

After the above announcement was ready for the press the following correspondence took place between the two Boards:

Christian Science Board of Directors, September 25, 1919.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist,
Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

We acknowledge receipt of Mr. Jarvis' letters of the 22nd, 24th and 25th instant, in reply to our letter of the 18th instant on the subject of the proposed publication of "The War Time Activities of the Christian Science Movement."

Inquiries have already been received regarding this proposed publication. We feel that something authoritative ought to be published in relation to it, giving a reason why the publication is not to be issued in accordance with the circulars sent to committees and also with announcements made at branch church meetings.

As we have no doubt that this course will meet with your approval, we intend to publish in the next Sentinel a special announcement, a proof of which we inclose herewith. We cannot conceive that you will have any objection to our publishing the correspondence, but if anything occurs to you, kindly let us know before eleven o'clock tomorrow morning, at which time the Sentinel presses will begin running.

Sincerely yours,
Board of Trustees,
(Signed) Herbert W. Eustace, Secretary.

Board of Trustees, September 26, 1919.

The Christian Science Publishing Society,
Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

The Christian Science Board of Directors has just had read to them your letter of last night, and instructs me to ask that you kindly hold your presses until twelve o'clock noon to-day so as to give them an opportunity to prepare a reply.

Sincerely yours,
(Signed) Chas. E. Jarvis,
Corresponding Secretary for The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Christian Science Board of Directors, September 26, 1919.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist. Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

Complying with the request in your letter of this morning just received, we have requested the business manager to hold the presses until twelve o'clock noon to-day.

With best wishes, Yours sincerely,
Board of Trustees,
(Signed) Herbert W. Eustace, Secretary.

Board of Trustees, September 26, 1919.

The Christian Science Publishing Society,
Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

With reference to the letter dated yesterday and the proof sheet of an article prepared for the Christian Science Sentinel, which were delivered to me for the Christian Science Board of Directors at a late hour last night, this Board has instructed me at a meeting held this morning to reply as follows:

The Directors of The Mother Church regard the above mentioned article as wholly uncalled for and as entirely improper. In at least four particulars it is mistaken, misleading, and unjust.

The Directors regard the book "Christian Science War Time Activities" as a perfectly proper report on the subjects within the scope of its contents. The reason why its publication has been suspended for the present is because your letter of September 18 intimated that you think the publication of this book by the Yale University Press would violate the temporary injuction issued in the present suit

The Directors do not take this view, but as you have raised the question, they have suspended the publication of the book for the present, it being their intention to comply with both the letter and the spirit of the Court's order.

It would appear from your letter that you are of the opinion that this report should be published by you. If that is your desire the Directors ask that you kindly so inform them, and possibly that arrangement can be made.

The Directors also instruct me to declare their opinion that publication of your proposed article would constitute a wrongful and detrimental interference with the business of The Mother Church and with an undertaking in which its members are greatly interested.

If you persist in publishing the article in question, please add this letter to it.

Sincerely yours,
(Signed) Chas. E. Jarvis,
Corresponding Secretary for The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Christian Science Board of Directors, September 26, 1919.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist,
Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Friends:

In your letter of to-day you ask to be informed whether we feel that the book in question should be published by The Christian Science Publishing Society. At the moment we have no opinion on the subject. We have had in the previous correspondence no intimation that the Directors had really authorized this undertaking.

A different situation is now presented. Before passing upon the question we should desire to see the manuscript to be informed of the purposes for which the book is to be put out, whether purely for profit or not, to whom the profit is to go, and other similar questions, before reaching a decision. If the proposition of its publication is submitted, we will give it prompt and careful consideration.

We will, however, now say that if the book is to be published as authorized Christian Science literature, it should be issued by The Christian Science Publishing Society and by no other. It was the distinct purpose of our Leader in creating the Publishing Society trust to have organization alone publish authorized Christian Science literature.

The Manual provides:

Article XXV, Section 8, under the heading "Books to be Published," "Only the Publishing Society of The Mother Church selects, approves, and pulishes the books and literature it sends forth."

Article XXI, Section 3, under the heading "Literature in Reading Rooms," "The literature sold or exhibited in the reading rooms of Christian Science Churches shall consist only of 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' by Mary Baker Eddy, and other writings by this author; also the literature published or sold by The Christian Science Publishing Society."

It would indeed be a strange and startling situation if a book to be sold to members of Christian Science Churches and congregations could not, under the Manual, be placed in the Christian Science Reading Rooms.

As to your suggestion that we refrain from printing our letters on this subject, we can see no sound basis for such a request. The Field are entitled to know the whole truth on this as on every other subject. Secrecy serves no useful purpose.

In accordance with your request we shall add to the Special Announcement your last letter; we shall also add our subsequent correspondence.

Sincerely yours,
Board of Trustees,
(Signed) Herbert W. Eustace, Secretary.