Extracts from Reports of Christian Science Committees on Publication for the Year Ended September 30, 1926

Henry Van Dyke

Illinois.

Christian Scientists in this field rejoice in the realization that our Cause has prospered. Under God's protecting care the Church of Christ, Scientist, in Illinois has pressed onward and upward. A substantial increase in membership is reported throughout the state. Churches in Charleston, Harvey, and Princeton have been reorganized from societies. A society has been organized at Northwestern University, in Evanston. These churches and the society have been recognized by The Christian Science Board of Directors.

A noticeable decrease in the number of letters needed to correct impositions and injustice in newspapers has been observed. I feel that our renewed efforts to gain the respect and confidence of the editors of the secular press have met with hearty response. We have approached these men and women of the public press with Christ's charity in our hearts. We have witnessed seeming barriers of misunderstanding crumble and the right hand of fellowship extended. Cordial support in the form of generous space for our lecture reports and church announcements has rewarded our loving labors. The friendly relations now maintained with editors have taught them to distinguish between the followers of Mrs. Eddy who furnish genuine Christian Science copy to the reading public, and false claimants of Christian Science who submit articles of misrepresentation and opposition. Many editors may be depended upon to delete misleading references to our religion appearing in press dispatches and other syndicated copy.

Our educational service entitled "Good Thoughts for Good People," now in its third year, continues to provide an interesting feature for daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois. As explained in the Committee's report for last year, this feature comprises carefully selected quotations from books and periodicals, including passages from editorials in The Christian Science Journal, the Christian Science Sentinel, and from the religious articles in The Christian Science Monitor, with full credit given.

The medical press in Illinois seems often to be hostile and evades retraction; but this committee is grateful to say that the more prominent medical journals have withheld defamatory comment, in some degree at least, during the past year. Quite a contrast to the antagonistic attitude manifested by officials of the medical press is the tolerant and cooperative attitude maintained by health officers throughout the state. With but few exceptions such officers are respecting our opposition to medical examination of public school children. The Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health in Springfield is fair and friendly. He has many times complimented Christian Scientists on their prompt observance of state law relative to quarantine. The Chicago Commissioner of Health cooperates with our office in an exemplary manner. His weekly health bulletins frequently approach the border line of metaphysical expression. One of these bulletins received favorable comment in an editorial in The Christian Science Monitor headed "An Unusual Health Bulletin." This editorial was generously republished in the Illinois press, much to the delight of the commissioner, who jocularly refers to our office as his "publicity agent."

Let a man live now in the light of the knowledge that he is to live forever.

Henry Van Dyke

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