Reports from the Field

[From the Report of the Christian Science Committee for State Institutions and Agencies in New Jersey]

In one of his discourses recorded in Matthew, Christ Jesus uttered these significant words: "I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, ... when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" The reply was, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

"How is the prison work progressing?" is a question often asked those active in this work. The activities of this Committee are no longer confined to the State Prison at Trenton, the largest state penal institution, as they were when the Committee was organized nearly seven years ago. From the very beginning the scope of the work has broadened with gratifying results and increasing interest, so that instead of regular services being held in one state institution only, the work is being carried on in four large state institutions.

It is a joy to announce that after many years of patient and persistent effort by this Committee, Christian Science services were started in November, 1931, at the State Reformatory at Rahway. The Sunday hours seemed to be fully occupied by other religious denominations, but three evenings during the week were available; so Tuesday evening from seven to eight was chosen as an appropriate time to hold the regular service, using the Christian Science Quarterly Lesson-Sermon of the previous Sunday.

Already much good healing work has been accomplished, and an increasing interest on the part of the young men is being manifested. The fact that there are nearly nine hundred, ranging in age from sixteen to thirty years, confined here shows that this institution offers a promising field for effective Christian Science work.

Services are being conducted at the State Farm at Leesburg each Sunday. As has been stated in previous reports, it is to this State Farm and to the State Farm near Borden-town that men are sent from the State Prison a year or two before they are finally discharged, or paroled, so that they can become accustomed to the greater freedom afforded by these State Prison Farms.

One of the restrictions placed upon the work in the State Prison at Trenton is that it has to be conducted exclusively by men.

The work started at the State Hospital for the Insane at Greystone Park in June, 1930, has continued to grow in interest and helpfulness. Some of the patients are studying the Lesson-Sermon each week, and their improved condition is commented upon by the doctors and nurses. There has been a marked increase in the attendance at these services, and close attention is given to the reading, many of the attendants joining in the singing and in the repetition of the Lord's Prayer.

One of the doctors informed our workers that the inmates eagerly awaited the Christian Science literature. The librarian said that the patients were happy to read the works of Mrs. Eddy, and that she was surprised to see how interested some of them were in keeping abreast of the times through reading The Christian Science Monitor.

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 414), Mrs. Eddy shows "the impossibility that matter, brain, can control or derange mind, can suffer or cause suffering; also the fact that truth and love will establish a healthy state, ... and destroy all error, whether it is called dementia, hatred, or any other discord."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit