Extracts from Reports of Christian Science Committees on Publication

Great Britain and Ireland.

References to Christian Science have appeared in a number of books and pamphlets during the year. Some of these have called for letters of protest, while others have been merely passing allusions to our religion which have needed no comment. Amongst these references it is refreshing to find the following, from "Beckoning Horizon" by the Rt. Hon. Wedgwood Benn and Margaret Benn: "Whatever may be thought of this theology [Christian Science], few unprejudiced people would deny that against the hurried background of American life today, Christian Scientists stand out, individually, as remarkably calm and steadfast people, upheld by an inner assurance that neither crisis nor collapse can touch."

A book entitled "God and You," by the Bishop of London, was published at the beginning of the year. It contained a reference to Christian Science which was incorrect, and in reply to my letter to the bishop explaining the point at issue, he wrote, "The last thing I wish to do is to misrepresent the teaching of Christian Science, and I will certainly reconsider what I have written, if there is a second edition."

Although fewer groups of non-Christian Scientists have been addressed by the District Manager of Committees on Publication this year, the total number so addressed by different Committees throughout Great Britain has increased, and much good has resulted. In several instances a copy of the textbook, Science and Health, and an authorized biography of our Leader have been placed in the libraries of these groups, and it has been reported that individual members have subsequently gone to local Reading Rooms for further study and help. The two following quotations from letters received by this office after those meetings will show that a definite need is being met in this way. "May I write and thank you on behalf of the fellows for the exceedingly interesting time you gave us last Sunday. There is no doubt that you very much interested all of us. I have been bombarded with numerous questions I am afraid I am not in a position to answer." Again, "We found your paper not only instructive but most interesting, and there is no doubt that you aroused our interest."

This growing demand for talks shows how genuine is the desire on the part of those organizations to learn something of Christian Science. They are mainly composed of young men and women, but one Committee on Publication addressed a Veterans' Association.

An approved paper on Christian Science was read by a Committee on Publication to a group of twenty-four convicts in one of the large long-term prisons in England. The Christian Science representative at this prison, feeling that the men in his charge were sincerely interested in Christian Science and desirous of learning more about it, asked if it would be possible to arrange for an address on Christian Science to be given to them. This proposal was submitted to The Christian Science Board of Directors and their consent obtained. When he was approached, the governor of the prison was most interested in the proposal. He willingly gave his consent and did everything he could to help us. The meeting was very successful, the men afterwards expressing their great appreciation and saying how much they had been helped. There are now eighteen Christian Science representatives visiting our prisons, including one in the women's prison at Holloway.

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Editorial

From a letter dated 1886

January 2, 1937

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