Article January 1, 1938 ISSUE

Extracts from Reports of Christian Science Committees on Publication

Great Britain and Ireland.

Appreciation of our daily newspaper is shown by the increasing number of editors who accept a gift subscription to the Monitor in exchange for free advertising space.

Evidence of our friendly relations with the clergy accumulates year by year. An expression of good will was evinced last Easter, when the vicar of a church on the outskirts of London sent greetings to the local Christian Science church.

Several plays have contianed references to Christian Science, but only one called for correction. In this instance, the play was being performed in a county town in the north of England, and an Assistant took the opportunity of calling on the actor concerned and asking him if he would delete the objectionable reference to Christian Science. This he readily consented to do and the matter ended.

The work in connection with the prisons is not a part of the regular activities of the Committee on Publication. I am authorized, however, by The Christian Science Board of Directors, to act as an intermediary between the Prison Commissioners, the prison governors, and the Christian Science churches and societies.

The method of appointing a Christian Science "minister" is as follows. A prisoner evincing an interest in Christian Science has the privilege of applying to the prison governor for a Christian Scientist to visit him. The governor may then apply to the Prison Commissioners, who in their turn invite me to appoint a Christian Scientist to go the prison. I then ask the Christian Science church or society nearest the prison to nominate a visitor, who, if necessary, may later be appointed a "prison minister."

There are now nineteen Christian Science "ministers" in Great Britain and Ireland. These "ministers" are not paid any salary by the churches, but, where necessary, their expenses are usually defrayed by the churches or societies appointing them. They receive payment from the Government on the scale and under the conditions approved for nonconformist ministers. This payment is, however, dependent on the number of men visited, and as this is small the sum received is nominal. Excellent Christian Science healings have taken place in the prisons during the year.

One of the outstanding events of the past year was the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Early in February an intimation was received from the Earl Marshal's office that a summons would be sent in due course for a delegate of the Church of Christ, Scientist, to attend the Coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey. This intimation was communicated to The Christian Science Board of Directors, who nominated me, as District Manager, to attend.

In the Abbey I was given a place among the representatives of other religions. On my left was the chief rabbi, head of the Jewish faith, on my right a Baptist minister. Doctors of divinity and men of letters occupied adjoining seats. It was clear that the authorities recognized the standing of the Christian Science church.

I was deeply impressed by the significance of the occasion, and the way in which representatives from all nations were gathered together at the focal point of Westminister to witness the dedication of our Sovereign and his Queen. The words of the Archbishop on the presentation of the Holy Bible to his Majesty particularly impressed me: "Our gracious King; we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; this is the royal law; these are the lively Oracles of God."

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"Lift up a standard for the people"
January 1, 1938
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