Christian Science Committee on Publication for Lancashire, England, Reports

Mrs. Eddy gives a word of encouragement to those looking away from the chaos of today to the harmony of tomorrow, for which we are all working, when she says in "Pulpit and Press," page 10: "Christian Scientists, you have planted your standard on the rock of Christ, the true, the spiritual idea,—the chief corner-stone in the house of our God. And our Master said: 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.' If you are less appreciated to-day than your forefathers, wait—for if you are as devout as they, and more scientific, as progress certainly demands, your plant is immortal."

The work in connection with the press has continued steadily. During the past year several additional papers have been discontinued, owing to the further restriction of newsprint, and others have stopped or reduced the space they have previously given to us. Our friendly relations with them continue unabated, however. One of the most important of our activities, the excerpts from the Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly, is gradually giving the press and the public a more correct sense of Christian Science. Of the excerpts, 978 have been published during the year. The Gems of Thought items have been published 366 times.

Reports of lectures on Christian Science have been published forty-six times, and an account of the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church thirty-four times, the highest figure for both these items yet printed in any year. Thirty-five reports of Thanksgiving Day services is also as high as it has ever been in any year. These items are encouraging for the future, when conditions become more normal again.

Only four articles have appeared in Lancashire during the year which called for correction; replies were published in each case.

We are today living in an age of transition. Everyone is seeking for a better world and for improved conditions. And this yearning to improve things, to make things better, is permeating human consciousness and inspiring much in the way of new legislation. Much of this legislation is good and useful, but we need to watch that, being material, it does not unknowingly stop or hinder the spiritual and the real means for the satisfaction of all progressive desire. Some of these questions are social health and security, education, health of school children, nurses, and youth organizations. These are all questions to the fore in Parliament, and demand the consideration of Christian Scientists.

During the past year all Christian Science churches in the county have had the opportunity of hearing about the work of the Committee on Publication. Three of these meetings were addressed by the District Manager. The others were addressed by this Committee, and at most of them members of neighboring churches were present, so that members of all the Christian Science churches in the county had the opportunity of hearing the address.

During the year the Committee on Publication was invited to address two meetings of groups of people who were not Christian Scientists. One was at a Unitarian church in Gorton, Manchester, and the other was at a youth club at Lees, near Oldham. These two meetings were very interesting opportunities. The first meeting was one of a series on the teachings of different denominations, and it was obvious that those who attended were inclined to be critical. Those who attended the second meeting, however, knew nothing of the subject, and seemed deeply interested.

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"While it is called To day"

December 2, 1944

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