Item of Interest April 6, 1946 Issue

Branch Churches and Wartime Measures

During the war years some branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, and Christian Science Societies, particularly those located in coastal areas, found it difficult because of the blackouts and restrictions on transportation to hold their business and committee meetings at the usual time. The gasoline rationing limited for many the number of trips which could be made weekly. Consequently, after consulting The Christian Science Board of Directors, and as a wartime measure, some branch churches arranged to hold business and committee meetings preceding or following the Wednesday evening testimony meetings. Occasionally, when a matter of some urgency arose, a brief business meeting was called on Sunday following the church service.

These arrangements were in the nature of emergency provisions. Now that the rules covering civilian defense activities and the gasoline rationing have been lifted, and travel by automobile and public conveyance is unrestricted, the need for such special arrangements has passed. It is desirable, therefore, that the practice of holding business or committee meetings preceding or following the Wednesday evening testimony meetings, or on Sundays, be discontinued.

Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has set forth in Article VIII, Section 24, of the Church Manual the purpose of the midweek meetings in Christian Science churches. Branch churches generally, therefore, feel that under normal conditions they should allow their members to depart from these meetings, as well as from the Sunday services, filled with the inspiration and help which they have gained there, and for this reason they do not hold business or other meetings before or after their church services.

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