Article December 16, 1944 Issue

Christian Science Wartime Activities

EARL ALBERT RUSSELL

Christian Science wartime activities differ from Christian Science peacetime activities merely in the problems presented as the result of the changing states and stages of individual and collective human thinking. Always, the activities of Christian Science, whether in wartime or in peacetime, are to glorify God and to reveal man as His image and likeness.

Speaking of the government of the Church of Christ, Scientist, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, once told a reporter (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 342): "It will evolve scientifically. Its essence is evangelical." In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy has pointed out (p. 369): "The prophylactic and therapeutic (that is, the preventive and curative) arts belong emphatically to Christian Science, as would be readily seen, if psychology, or the Science of Spirit, God, was understood." These three phases or activities of Christian Science may be said to be primary in the work of the Christian Science Wartime Minister, as may be seen by the fact that his credentials provide and certify that he is an "authorized Reader for Christian Science services in military and naval stations, and Practitioner." While the evangelical, preventive, and curative arts or activities of Christian Science are very much at one, each activity has its predominating phases.

Christian Science services in the naval and military stations are in no sense makeshift services. They are the same inspirational, healing services held by every Church of Christ. Scientist, everywhere. The services are conducted with the permission of The Christian Science Board of Directors, and an announcement to this effect is made at each service. The order of services follows the order outlined in the Manual of The Mother Church. The Christian Science Wartime Minister serves as First Reader, and, as a general rule, one of the boys acts as Second Reader. This familiarizes the boys with the reading work and prepares them for conducting services if they should find themselves where no Christian Science services are being held.

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