Notes from the Directors

Christian Scientists who have contributed to The Mother Church "Fund for Relief in the Near East" will be pleased to know that the distribution of money and supplies is now being carried on by one of our church representatives who is at Constantinople.

Lieutenant Joel H. Benson, attached as a Christian Science Chaplain to the U. S. S. Denebola, now in eastern waters, is personally supervising the disbursement of the funds which have been cabled to him from Boston at different times. This insures that all the deserving within his reach will be promptly and intelligently cared for, without any of the usual expenses often incidental to a more elaborate or extended organization. It is reassuring to know that the money contributed by Christian Scientists is, without any expense to the Fund, being disbursed by a Christian Scientist on the far side of the world in relieving suffering and distress.

In response to inquiries, announcement is made that the report of the master appointed to find the facts in the suit brought by John V. Dittemore to contest his removal from The Christian Science Board of Directors, will be printed by The Christian Science Publishing Society, when it has been filed in court. The report, which has been issued in confidence to counsel on both sides, is at present in the form of a draft, subject to revision, and may be completed and filed in March.

In replying to other inquiries, the explanation is made that the next step in this litigation, after the master's report on the facts has been filed, will be an application to a single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts for a hearing by the full court of the issues presented by the plaintiff's bill of complaint, the defendants' answer, the master's report of the facts found by him, and the objections thereto which may be filed. The defendants' appeal from the denial by a single justice of their motion for the appointment of a different master may be heard at the same time. The hearing by the full court is not likely to occur before November. The report of the master will not be a final adjudication of the case; only the court, not the master, can decide whether the removal of Mr. Dittemore was valid.

The sincere student of Christian Science is not readily misled by the prevailing form of self-mesmerism which has lately been given so much newspaper notoriety. He discerns it to be one of the signs of the times which has in it neither Principle nor permanence. He needs to be alert, however, lest he be ensnared by a less palpable but more dangerous error which seeks acceptance as truth, claiming to be based on certain statements detached from Mrs. Eddy's earlier writings. These it presents in a false light, while ignoring altogether our Leader's repeated warnings against just such conditions as now seem to exist in some sections of the Field.

A specific statement by Mrs. Eddy is to be found in "Retrospection and Introspection," on page 82, "The arrangement of my last revision [of Science and Health], in 1890, makes the subject-matter clearer than any previous edition, and it is therefore better adapted to spiritualize thought and elucidate scientific healing and teaching." In the Church Manual she also commends her revised editions since 1902.

Speaking of the necessity of our adhering to her later writings only, as our guide, Mrs. Eddy writes in Miscellany, page 237, "What I wrote on Christian Science some twenty-five years ago I do not consider a precedent for a present student of this Science. The best mathematician has not attained the full understanding of the principle thereof, in his earliest studies or discoveries. Hence, it were wise to accept only my teachings that I know to be correct and adapted to the present demand." It is well to remember, also, what she has written on this subject on page 361 of Science and Health: "I have revised Science and Health only to give a clearer and fuller expression of its original meaning. Spiritual ideas unfold as we advance."

Notes from the Publishing House

Evidence of the growth in the volume of business of the Publishing House during the last year is found in the great increase in the volume of mail. In January, 1922, the average number of letters received daily was 661; in January, 1923, it amounted to 2316.

On October 28, 1922, The Christian Science Monitor was accepted as a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. This is an organization of publishers of newspapers and peri odicals for the purpose of insuring the accuracy of circulation figures, membership in which will mean much to the Monitor, among advertisers.

A good index of the growth of the circulation of the Monitor is found in the increase in the amount of newsprint paper required. In January, 1922, the amount used was 86 tons; in January, 1923, it was 322 tons. The daily average net paid circulation for January, 1923, was 82,910.

Admission to Membership in The Mother Church

Applications for admission to membership in The Mother Church may be sent to the Clerk at any time throughout the year. They are acted upon by the Board of Directors only at their semi-annual meetings for the election of new members, as provided by the Manual of The Mother Church, Article XIII, Section 2.

The next meeting of the Board for this purpose occurs June 1, 1923. Applications to be acted upon at that time should reach the Clerk by May 18, 1923. Applications received too late for consideration in June will be placed on file for the November 2, 1923, admission.

The receipt of all applications is acknowledged by the Clerk; and on the date set for consideration, notice of acceptance or rejection is sent to those whose applications have been received in time for the essential preliminary attention. Should an applicant not receive such notice, he is requested to communicate with the Clerk before forwarding a second application.

Additional application forms may always be obtained by addressing the Clerk, GEO. WENDELL ADAMS, 236 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts.