We are glad to share with our readers the larger part of the proceedings and reports of the Annual Meeting of The Mother Church held in Boston on June 2.

Members attended from distant parts of the world and from all sections of the United States and Canada.

The Annual Meeting exemplifies the world-wide unity of our great movement and is evidence of the loyalty of Christian Scientists everywhere to our much-loved Leader and to the system of church government which she, under God's guidance, so wisely established for all time. In these illumining addresses and informative reports you will find something of the import of our Annual Meeting as envisioned by Mary Baker Eddy in her statement in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 125): "Brethren, our annual meeting is a grave guardian. It requires you to report progress, to refresh memory, to rejuvenate the branches and to vivify the buds, to bend upward the tendrils and to incline the vine towards the parent trunk."

The opening hymn was No. 161, "It matters not what be thy lot," the words of which were written by our Leader, Mrs. Eddy. The retiring President, Mr. Luther Phillips Cudworth, then read the following passages from the Bible and from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy:

The Bible
I Chron. 16:23, 24
Isa. 52:7, 10
Matt. 24:1, 2, 4 Take, 7, 11, 13, 14
Ps. 68:11, 20 (to;)

Science and Health
Pref. vii:2 Pref. xi:22
271:1-5, 20-22 55:15

Pref. x:3-4, 11-13

After a few moments of silent prayer followed by the audible repetition of the Lord's Prayer, the congregation joined in singing Hymn No.181, "Loving Father, we Thy children."

Mr. Cudworth then announced the names of the new officers of The Mother Church, namely: President, Mrs. Helen Chaffee Elwell, of East Hebron, New Hampshire, and Boston, Massachusetts; Treasurer, Roy Garrett Watson, of Brookline, Massachusetts; Clerk, Gordon V. Comer, of Denver, Colorado; First Reader, Thomas E. Hurley, of Louisville, Kentucky; Second Reader, Mrs. Georgina Tennant, of London, England.

The retiring President, Mr. Cudworth, then spoke in part as follows:

Christian Scientists recognize, with deepest gratitude to their revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, that she has given this age the revelation of Truth. Mrs. Eddy did not rest with her own acceptance of the great influx of spiritual light, but under God's direction and endued with courage unmatchable, alone with God, in the face of medical and theological opposition and mortal mind resistance, she founded her Church and established the Cause of Christian Science.

That Mrs. Eddy intended her Church to spread the gospel of healing and peace to all men and nations in perpetuity is unquestionable. It is our responsibility and opportunity to see that the ways and means provided for publishing salvation are properly and effectively turned to account.

One fact we should keep particularly in mind is that primarily we are working with spiritual ideas, not merely with material things—paper, books, periodicals, presses, offices, and church buildings.

We have God-given authority for publishing salvation. Consequently we can realize that every word of truth spoken, every article printed, every Lesson-Sermon issued, every Christian Science service conducted, goes forth with "healing in [its] wings."

Referring to steps taken in establishing her Church, Mrs. Eddy has written (Retrospection and Introspection, pp. 44,45): "Adding to its ranks and influence, this spiritually organized Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, still goes on. A new light broke in upon it, and more beautiful became the garments of her who 'bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.'" We, members of this Church, should fulfill our responsibilities in publishing peace to the world.

We are well aware of the necessity of compliance with the Rules of the Manual of The Mother Church. Obedience to this Manual and active loyalty to our Leader will inspire us in the joyous performance of our duties.

The continuous recognition of the government of the one divine Mind impels unified action. Mrs. Eddy counsels (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 249), "Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine 'powers that be;'" following her precepts we cannot fail to maintain successful co-operation with fellow members and our governing boards.

That millions of receptive minds may be correctly informed. The Christian Science Board of Directors has approved the use of generally accepted means, such as printed lecture notices, newspaper advertising, and radio broadcasts, to herald the second appearing of the Christ, Truth—Christian Science.

This Christ Science comes to the world, not implemented by deceptive propaganda. Shining forth by its own light, it publishes the word of truth that "all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (Isa. 52:10).

Mr. Cudworth then introduced the incoming President, who addressed the meeting in part as follows:

Beloved Members of The Mother Church:

This is a meeting of hearts, and we can well say that our Leader's love welcomes us here today, for we can never separate Mary Baker Eddy from The Mother Church.

When Christ Jesus looked out upon the world of his day, outwardly disturbed though it was, it appeared to him as a truly great harvest, awaiting only the reaping.

Our Master was not overwhelmed by the magnitude or complexity of what was presented to him. He knew that the understanding and demonstration of the divine Principle, Love, which he called his Father, were adequate to the solution of every problem.

That his teaching might be given limitless scope and permanent form our Master promised the Comforter, which would lead into all truth, revealing Christianity as a knowable, livable, and demonstrable Science. When, therefore, as Christian Scientists we look out upon the world of today with assurance born of spiritual understanding, it is because our Leader, in revealing divine Science, has placed our feet on the rock, Christ.

There are those, however, who believe that the present times offer problems impossible of solution. Others see little hope for amity among nations.

Such thinkers need to learn the immanence of heaven, the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of the infinite God, good, with its consequent, the impotence and powerlessness, because of the godlessness, of evil. But "how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14.) The Church is that preacher, and to the Christian Church has come, through the revelation of Christian Science, the opportunity, unparalleled in Christian history, so to present the true concept of God in His relationship to man and the universe, together with God's loving care for all His children, that men will turn naturally to the teachings of Christ.

This is the hour when both the pulpit and the press can unite in a crusade of righteousness, and in a spirit of brotherly love set forth a pure, spiritual Christianity. This is the hour for the Church to dare to be a David and challenge the mesmerism of materialistic force with the truth that God, good, is omnipotent.

Thus the Church can be not only a refuge from the storm, but the vital, spiritual force whose mission it is to challenge and destroy evil in any of its various forms, and successfully to cope with the so-called forces of matter or materialism on the Biblical basis that God, Spirit, is All-in-all.

The Mother Church extends its healing ministry through its branches, reinstating the teaching and practice of primitive, apostolic Christianity. It proclaims the saving and redemptive Christ as demonstrated by Jesus and again revealed through Christian Science. We unite with all Christendom in the greatest unifying force on earth in praying our Lord's Prayer, in which all mankind can join, acknowledging one Father, one divine Mind.

Each individual member has his place in this collective activity, church, and each must do his part that the acme of divine energy and power may be expressed. Love, spirituality—all the qualities of unworldliness—are the immediate needs of the world.

When the Christ-love inhabits our hearts, it is made manifest in lives of service to God, to our Leader, and to mankind. This Christ-love, enriching the individual consciousness, waters the very roots of church membership; keeps pace with our scientific understanding, making us Christian Scientists in spirit as well as in truth.

May the beauty of holiness be upon each member of our beloved Mother Church that the Church itself may be without spot or blemish, and the "king's daughter [be] all glorious within" (Ps. 45:13). Thus will the Church move majestically forward at the behest of Truth and in demonstration of unfolding infinity.

A Word from The Christian Science Board of Directors, Read by Adair Hickman, Retiring First Reader

THE MOTHER CHURCH: ITS PLACE, ITS AUTHORITY, AND ITS MISSION IN THE MODERN WORLD

This Annual Meeting of The Mother Church would not be complete without a word of thanks from The Christian Science Board of Directors to the great and steadily growing army of loyal members. We thank you for your fidelity to our beloved Leader's teachings, for your generous support of the activities of her Church, and for the loving encouragement which you unfailingly extend to the workers at headquarters. Divine Love has indeed blessed our Cause. The members of The Mother Church are blessed, too, for their stanch obedience to the sacred purpose of this Church, divinely revealed to Mary Baker Eddy, its Founder.

The Mother Church occupies a unique position in the world today. Alone among modern institutions it is free from the burdens and confusion which attend the human mind's ceaseless groping for a fixed purpose and for the ways to fulfill it. The Mother Church is free by God's grace to devote itself in singleness of heart to the redemption of mankind, singly and collectively, from sin, sickness, death, and their penalties. This freedom is no achievement of human wisdom. It is based on divine Principle. The constitution of The Mother Church is unchangeably established in the Church Manual, written by our Leader. Mrs. Eddy was God's servant, and His chosen messenger in our age. She has written conclusively (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 230), "Notwithstanding the sacrilegious moth of time, eternity awaits our Church Manual, which will maintain its rank as in the past, amid ministries aggressive and active, and will stand when those have passed to rest." Upon this declaration, sublime in its childlike acceptance of a divine mandate, Christian Scientists are content to rely. They are content to accept the provision of the Manual which prohibits amending or annulling any tenet or By-Law of The Mother Church.

The Mother Church is the watchful and tender guardian of human consciousness in its ascent Godward. Christ is the Way, and our great Master demonstrated that it is a practical, demonstrable, and triumphant way of holiness. Christian Science enables all mankind to follow in this way through healing and regeneration. Christian Science does this because it reveals the promised Comforter. It unfolds God as divine Principle, Love; it presents man and woman in their real being as God's individual reflection, spiritual and complete. Our divinely inspired Church Manual is rooted in this revelation, and in it the authority of The Mother Church has its source. Of necessity, then, this authority is exercised solely to strengthen and heal. It is found painful or irksome only by those who, ignorantly or willfully, have strayed from the path of Christ. Yet even those will some day remember that the authority of The Mother Church was exerted with no other purpose than to help and save them.

To The Christian Science Board of Directors Mrs. Eddy has entrusted grave and permanent responsibilities. It is its task to administer the provisions of the Church Manual in keeping with her intent. It is required to direct the activities which she founded or authorized, and in doing this it selects and assigns the workers who fill various offices in our movement. To it falls the mandatory duty of applying church discipline, independently of the branch churches. In the performance of this important duty it is guided by our Leader's precepts and example.

Church discipline has a twofold aim: to heal the offender and to protect our Cause. Patience must have her perfect healing work, yet not at the price of long-continued wrongs inflicted on the innocent. To promote and extend the religion taught by Mrs. Eddy, in new fields and old, is a primary demand on the Board of Directors. It is also its duty to maintain public worship in the edifice of The Mother Church, as Mrs. Eddy provided. And to it falls in special measure the privilege of counseling and aiding workers in the Field, as well as branch churches, societies, and organizations.

In their decisions the Directors are governed by their understanding of our Leader's intentions for her Church. The preservation and fulfillment of her intent are paramount. This great fact has been acknowledged by the civil law in a decision of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, which contains this memorable passage: "The promotion of Christian Science as taught by Mrs. Eddy was the end and aim of the trust. To that regnant design all other provisions, not in themselves made fixed and unchangeable, must yield. Christian Science as thus taught was disclosed by the writings of the founder." The Board of Directors, as it pursues its manifold duties, keeps before it constantly Mrs. Eddy's words (Science and Health, p. 1): "Prayer, watching, and working, combined with self-immolation, are God's gracious means for accomplishing whatever has been successfully done for the Christianization and health of mankind."

The primary mission of The Mother Church is to foster and safeguard spirituality. The Church is in conflict only with materiality, with sin, disease, and death. The Mother Church exemplifies the brotherhood of man, bound in one family which acknowledges one supreme and infinite God, good, It expresses, in fuller measure than has ever before been witnessed in the world's history, collective, coherent, intelligent striving to understand God. The Mother Church and its members, collectively and individually, have something vital to contribute toward the solution of every problem which confronts humanity. In national and international affairs, their support of righteous government is powerful and effective, for it is based on complete confidence in the victory of good over evil. God rules the affairs of men. Neither fear nor animality can give evil power to boast itself over good. To the tired worker in the cause of peace and good government, Christian Science proclaims in the words of the prophet (Dan. 10:19), "O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong."

For the harassed employer and for his dissatisfied employee, Christian Science opens the way to harmonious understanding and co-operation. To the sick, the sinful, and the underprivileged, Christian Science carries the gospel of healing, purity, and freedom. To youth, in particular, Christian Science makes its appeal (Matt. 4:19): "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Anchor your ideals and your enthusiasms, not in the quicksands of personal sense or human emotion, but in the omnipotence of divine Principle, and you will see those ideals transfigured and brought to pass.

In a sermon preached in Boston in 1886, Mrs. Eddy spoke words which should bring us comfort amid the turmoil which surrounds us. She said (The People's Idea of God, p. 1): "Every step of progress is a step more spiritual. The great element of reform is not born of human wisdom; it draws not its life from human organizations; rather is it the crumbling away of material elements from reason, the translation of law back to its original language,—Mind, and the final unity between man and God." In the light of this prophetic statement we may discern the hand of God directing the thoughts of men to higher purposes that His will may be done on earth. Nothing in modern times has contributed so much to spiritual progress as the restoration of Christian healing through our beloved Leader's discovery of the Science of the Christ. Not only has the healing work of Christian Science brought cure to a vast host of sufferers, but it has made of them earnest students of the Scriptures, and it has enlisted them in the task of purifying themselves from sin as well as sickness. What is more, the teachings of Christian Science have spiritualized the thinking of the entire civilized world to a notable degree. Our warmest gratitude goes out to the consecrated practitioners of Christian Science healing, who are devoting their lives to the practical demonstration of the truth which our Leader taught.

The members of The Mother Church have every reason to rejoice in the progress of our Cause. Yet even more should they rejoice in the opportunities which are ahead of them. Every sacrifice of self, even though unseen and unacknowledged, hastens the coming of Christ's kingdom, the reign and rule of universal harmony. Their victories are barren if they do not advance the spiritualizing of their own and of their neighbors' lives. In this continual process of spiritualizing individual motives and acts, The Mother Church is your indispensable ally. Enrolled in its ranks you will find at hand all that is needful to promote your growth and usefulness.

When a member of The Mother Church is called to answer the question, "What is this Church?" he may declare boldly: It is the Church of Christ, Scientist, founded by Mary Baker Eddy. It proves its faith by its works. To the further question, "By what authority did she found a church?" he can reply: She was divinely anointed and appointed to reveal the holy Comforter. All that she has done to spiritualize the lives of humanity by healing sickness and sin attests her right to serve God as His chosen messenger. And to a third question, "Does the Bible confirm this?" he will point to the one recorded instance when Jesus spoke of his church, the time when he commended Peter for his recognition of the Christ expressed by Jesus in his healing works. The Master's promise that those who believe on him, understand his teachings, shall do the works he did, shows that the Church of Christ must be and is a healing church, founded not on a person, but upon the divine Principle, Love. And, as Jesus said (Matt. 16:18), "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." We are assured of God that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church of Christ, Scientist, and of course all grateful beneficiaries of Christian Science welcome every opportunity to uphold our Leader's demonstration of organized church activity.

To The Mother Church in 1947, and in all the years to come, our Leader's words apply with the same significance as when they were first written more than half a century ago (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 141): "Of our first church in Boston. O recording angel! write: God is in the midst of her: how beautiful are her feet! how beautiful are her garments! how hath He enlarged her borders! how hath He made her wildernesses to bud and blossom as the rose!"

From The Report Of The Treasurer, Read By Roy Garrett Watson, Treasurer Of The Mother Church

The Treasurer reported that the provisions in the By-Law of our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. XXIV, Sect. 3), had been complied with and that the books of the Church Treasurer had been audited.

Included in his report were the following remarks:

"The wartime activities are still continuing on a generous scale in the distribution of clothing and food to our loved friends beyond both the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean.... Since the need first arose, in 1939, The Mother Church has extended relief in the amount of $9,704,522 for this charitable work.

"Through the five general channels of income: the first, the per capita tax; the second, individual contributions (and bequests); the third, contributions from branch churches and societies; the fourth, gifts from students' associations; and the fifth, the net earnings of The Christian Science Publishing Society, the treasury of The Mother Church has been liberally supported during this past year. This treasured support of The Mother Church by its members is one of the most inspiring and beautiful things in the world, typifying, as it does, the love of her children for their beloved Mother Church."

From The Report Of Christian Science Trustees For Gifts And Endowments

Our Leader tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 206) that "whatever blesses one blesses all." In order to provide an opportunity for added blessings The Christian Science Board of Directors established the Trusteeship of the Christian Science Trustees for Gifts and Endowments on June 4, 1926, to accept trusts from members of The Mother Church who desire ultimately to make a gift to further the Cause of Christian Science but who, for various reasons, wish to retain the income from the principal of their funds.

This Trusteeship can accept revocable, living trusts from members of The Mother Church in amounts of one thousand dollars or more. The net income earned by a trust can be paid to the donor during his lifetime and then may be paid to a named beneficiary for a specified number of years. If the need should arise, a donor can withdraw his trust fund, in whole or in part, without any charge.

The Trustees for Gifts and Endowments are now handling two hundred and seventy-three active trusts, including eight trusts established by branch churches.

From The Report Of The Trustees Of The Charitable Institutions

The Christian Science Benevolent Associations and The Christian Science Pleasant View Home are provided and maintained by the Field as a whole, for the loving care of those in need of the facilities each has to offer. The former have indeed proved to be refuges for those in need of healing, rest, and study. The past year has been a busy one with the Benevolent Associations, and both institutions have been filled to their capacity of service.

The training of nurses results in blessings which extend beyond the institutions themselves, and is, truly, an investment benefiting the Field at large. With transportation again available, it has been a pleasure to welcome a number of our British members as students in the nurses' training course.

The Christian Science Pleasant View Home accommodates mainly Christian Science practitioners and nurses whose long and devoted service to the Cause has earned for them this quiet and beautiful retreat.

Too much gratitude cannot be expressed to the associates and consecrated students who so skillfully supply the needed services for the three institutions. Deep gratitude, also, is due the Field for the consistent support which it has given to these institutions.

Because, during the past several years, it has been possible to do little by way of rehabilitation, such as weatherproofing buildings, interior decorating, replacements of equipment and furnishings, as well as necessary care of grounds, much needs to be done. This work, combined with the substantial increases in salary recently given to the associates, especially those in the lower brackets, will necessarily augment somewhat the future operating costs of our institutions.

It is the happy privilege of all Christian Scientists to consider these institutions particularly their own and to support them financially and in their daily realization of Love's direction of and provision for their activities.

From The Report Of The Clerk, Read By Gordon V. Comer

Our hearts are filled with gratitude today for the goodness of God. We blend our voices with the Psalmist in singing (Ps. 107: 8), "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

It is with great gratitude that we report a very substantial net increase in the membership of The Mother Church during the past year, Now that means of communication again are established in most parts of the world, many men and women in other countries who for some time have been unable to get in touch with The Mother Church are applying for membership; and in other areas as well the increase has been marked.

We are grateful to report more and more active and fruitful thought among our members, We are grateful also for the helpful co-operation afforded The Mother Church at all times by branch churches and societies. Committees on Publication are extending extremely valuable assistance to us in our endeavors to establish an ever closer and stronger bond between the Field and headquarters.

The Church of Christ, Scientist, is built upon spiritual healing. Healing gives to our Church divine support and purpose for existing. Our great Master said (Matt. 7:20), "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." During the last year the fruitage of healing throughout the Field has been great.

Although the well-authenticated healings that appear in our periodicals represent but a very small part of those that have been brought about through the healing ministrations of Christian Science, during the year 1946 there have been recorded in The Christian Science Journal and in the Christian Science Sentinel 1,539 healings. These healings are of a very wide variety of diseases, many of which are considered incurable by schools of medicine. It is interesting to note that one hundred and forty-two of the healings so reported were accomplished through the student's own study of Science and Health.

DEPARTMENT OF BRANCHES AND PRACTITIONERS

Our branch churches and societies stand as witnesses of spiritual healing. The fact that over ten thousand Christian Science practitioners are listed in The Christian Science Journal bears witness to the availability of spiritual healing today.

Over six hundred practitioners have qualified for cards in the Journal this past year and sixty nurses. Thirty-eight new branch churches have been formed and fifteen college and university organizations.

Many branches of The Mother Church on the Continent of Europe have resumed their work to the extent of being able to qualify for the reinsertion of their cards in the Journal. Also, a Christian Science Society has been organized in Tokyo, Japan, and recognized as a branch of The Mother Church.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES DIVISION

Increase in Sunday School attendance is reported from the primary classes to the older groups. Many churches are either building or planning larger and improved Sunday School rooms. New Sunday School lending libraries have been established during the past year, and those already established have become more active. Special interest is shown in the biographies of our Leader.

From the little tots up, our boys and girls are accepting and using the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer with its spiritual interpretation, given in Science and Health (pp. 16,17), and the Sermon on the Mount as God's loving provision for their well-being. Pupils are gaining fuller appreciation of the fact that Christian Science is the Comforter which was promised by Christ Jesus, that Mary Baker Eddy was called of God to proclaim the Comforter to humanity, and that Christian Science is the complete and final revelation of Truth.

LITERATURE ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT

The Literature Activities Department is rejoicing over the many opportunities which have come to it during the past year to carry on the vital activities assigned to it.

The opening of the new Reading Room overlooking The Mother Church park has been especially gratifying. All four Reading Rooms of The Mother Church are located on the ground floor. The librarians and assistants have been faithful in their work of serving the seekers who enter these rooms.

The Literature Distribution Committee rejoices in the abundance of literature contributed, and the privilege it has had of distributing Christian Science literature in the local area of Boston and Brookline, as well as sending literature abroad to many countries on the European Continent, to Syria, Africa, the British West Indies, to several countries of South America, Australia, the Philippines, Netherlands Indies, India, and China.

The Advertising Information Committee for the Local District of The Mother Church rejoices over each member who subscribes to The Christian Science Monitor and awakens to the fact that the advertisements in our newspaper, and the resulting contacts, have their distinct part in the Monitor's regenerative work.

And there is joy because of the greater number of copies of the Monitor going daily into the homes of Bostonians as the result of the constantly increasing number of subscriptions obtained by the Circulation Committee of The Mother Church.

POSTWAR ACTIVITES

Postwar activities have been carried on during the past year by the Camp Welfare Activities of The Mother Church and by the Committee on Christian Science Wartime Activities.

Young men entering military service still find Christian Science Workers at the large training centers, and overseas activities are continued by Christian Science Army and Navy personnel with the occupation forces. At one hundred and seventy-five military and veterans' hospitals in the United States and Canada, Christian Science Workers visit patients, distribute literature, and conduct services.

Clothing prepared by the War Relief Committee, now discontinued, was distributed in Europe early in 1946. With the opening of overseas mails The Mother Church endeavored to locate all Christian Scientists in war-shattered countries.

During this year our churches in Germany were reopening. A gift of seventeen tons of books and periodicals was shipped to the German churches as soon as this became possible, followed by ten thousand Heralds monthly and nineteen thousand Quarterlies.

In 1946 many Christian Scientists throughout the world were still experiencing inadequate food supplies. In an effort to aid them individually The Mother Church and 1,626 of its branches in the United States, Canada, and Australia organized food parcel committees. Over two hundred thousand packages were shipped by parcel post during the year to Christian Scientists in twenty-five hunger-ridden countries. Foodstuffs were also shipped directly to churches and societies in eleven European countries for distribution to members of their congregations who had not received individual gift packages of food.

CONCLUSION

All of these activities are under the loving guidance of The Christian Science Board of Directors, who are always ready to consult with those who are responsible for the administration of the various departments, to offer them their wise counsel and prayerful support.

Today the world is confronted with tremendously important problems. It is a time when the peoples of the world must begin to see that they can no longer lean upon man-made things and theories but must lean more and more upon divine Principle—upon God. This desired state must come through an awakening in individual consciousness, an awakening to a higher concept of spiritual values and of true brotherhood. As this true sense finds expression in individual human consciousness, a powerful contribution to the sum total of human good will be made.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of blessings during the past year. The ever-deepening love expressed by our members for our Leader's demonstration of Church, gratifying reports of healings, the ever-growing sense of devotion to our Cause and of consecration to its great mission fill our hearts to overflowing. Our Leader's words in Miscellany (p. 174) express our thoughts: "Today my soul can only sing and soar. An increasing sense of God's love, omnipresence, and omnipotence enfolds me. Each day I know Him nearer, love Him more, and humbly pray to serve Him better. Thus seeking and finding (though feebly), finally may we not together rejoice in the church triumphant?" From The Report Of Committee On Publication, Read By William D. Kilpatrick, Manager

The Committee on Publication of The Mother Church rejoices this year in marked progress in many directions.

Since our last Annual Meeting we have witnessed the defeat and collapse of many pieces of legislation in federal and state legislative bodies in both the United States and Canada which not only would have proved inimical to the practice of Christian Science but would have been injurious to the entire citizenship.

Gradually, Christian Science practice and healing have become legally recognized and established as legitimate. Today but one out of the forty-eight states in the United States fails legally to recognize Christian Science as a healing medium. That one state is Ohio. Since our last meeting the states of West Virginia and Maryland have passed laws legally recognizing and establishing the right of Christian Science practice. We are looking for similar results in the one lone state of Ohio in the near future.

In the state of California passage of an Unemployment Disability Benefits law was attained wherein Christian Science practitioners were accorded the same right to certify to the disability of persons under their treatment as physicians under the same circumstances. A Christian Scientist may therefore receive compensation in case of unemployment through physical disability without any medical examination or interference whatever.

In the radio department of our office there has been much constructive and expanding activity. Our transcribed religious programs are being presented once a week over two hundred and thirty-five radio stations in the United States and Canada. Aside from the weekly transcribed programs we are again able to use the shortwave station WRUL, of the World Wide Broadcasting Foundation, which reaches many foreign countries: Great Britain, much of the Continent, North Africa, Egypt, Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Australia.

Since our last report Committee on Publication have been appointed for China, Japan, the Philippines. Italy, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, and Assistant Committees for the four military zones in Germany. Surely, in the words of one of our hymns (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 82).

At this point the congregation sang Hymn No.421, "From these Thy children gathered in Thy name."

From The Report Of The Christian Science Board Of Lectureship, Read by George Channing, Chairman

The Christian Science Board of Lectureship is happy to report an impressive increase in attendance at lectures. Practically every member of this Board has been informed by some branch of The Mother Church for which he or she has lectured that the lecture audience was the largest the church ever had. More strangers to our religion have been in the audiences than has been the case for many years.

A lecturer in northern Ireland was informed that an impressively large proportion of his audience was made up of persons making their first acquaintance with Christian Science. Lecturers in the British Isles found their audiences large and eager, and one lecturer assigned to the continent of Europe received many more invitations than could possibly be accepted on that particular tour.

The Board of Lectureship is aware of and grateful for many factors contributing to this happy situation. Among these are the consecrated preparatory work of churches and societies giving lectures, and the renewed zeal of adherents of our religion resulting from outstanding proofs of Christian Science healing experienced by members of the armed forces and their families and loved ones at home.

It is also apparent that lecture attendance has been favorably affected by the wide and judicious advertising of our Leader's writings by the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy and their Publishers' Agent.

It has been a lecture year of substantial fruitage, touching every member of the Board of Lectureship with a deep sense of humility and gratitude for the privilege of participating in this great work.

From the Report of the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy, Read by Hudson C. Burr, Publishers' Agent

Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, provided in her will that the major portion of the income from her estate, derived chiefly from the sale of her books, was to be used "for the purpose of more effectually promoting and extending" the Christian Science religion, founded by her.

During the year ended April 30 the Trustees have expended $160,000 in helping to erect and remodel church edifices. They have paid out about $13,000 to promote the distribution of Christian Science literature. They have used nearly $31,000 to extend the scope of Christian Science lecture work by paying part of the traveling expenses of lecturers going to distant countries, by assisting college organizations to give annual lectures, and by aiding newly organized churches and societies to give their first lectures. The Trustees have also paid out $35,000 to assist in placing authorized literature in lending libraries; for The Christian Science Monitor subscriptions sent to personnel of the United States diplomatic service and other government officials; and for the advancement of the Christian Science movement through various other avenues of activity.

In the office publishing our Leader's writings, progress is indicated by several widely different evidences of growth. The new translation of the textbook into Spanish has been completed and is being joyfully accepted by our Spanish-speaking friends.

The response to local newspaper advertising in which the Trustees have been co-operating with branches of The Mother Church during the past year has been gratifying. Sales of the textbook in the thirty metropolitan areas where this advertising was done rose more than forty per cent higher than was indicated by the normal trend elsewhere during the same period. Increases have been noted in the numbers of strangers using the Reading Rooms and attending church services, and many healings have resulted.

From the Report of the Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society, Read by John H. Hoagland, Manager

The activities of The Christian Science Publishing Society during the past year have yielded an increasing harvest of spiritual blessing. Humanity's poignant need for spiritual refreshment and comforting assurance has met with a response from the Publishing Society which has been evidenced in the largest circulation in the history of the Christian Science periodicals.

We are grateful to report that our new Herald in Spanish is growing in acceptance and usefulness, and that the circulation of our German and French Heralds in Europe has been especially gratifying.

Our circulation is growing again in the British Isles, where import restrictions have gradually been lifting.

The various books, pamphlets, and leaflets issued by the Publishing Society, including many new translations, have been widely circulated during the year, and we are happy to announce that our newest book, "The Story of Christian Science Wartime Activities, 1939-1946," is now on sale.

The healing mission of advertising in The Christian Science Monitor has been emphasized during the past year in an increase of 2,500 new users of our advertising columns, bringing the total to 22,300, and resulting in a new high record of 8,000,000 lines of advertising in 1946.

The Christian Science Monitor has continued to grow in prestige and service, and among the improvements in our newspaper this year were the restoration of color covers in the Magazine Section and the popular change which eliminates the continuation of stories from the first page.

Wide appreciation has been expressed through the Field for our weekly news program over the American Broadcasting Company network, "The Christian Science Monitor Views the News," and for the restoration of our short-wave radio program by the same title every evening except Sunday over Station WRUL.

The articles, editorials, testimonies, and poems in the Journal, Sentinel, and Heralds have borne abundant fruitage during the year, and the Editors of our periodicals are grateful for the work of contributors, whose writings are always welcome.

Many letters are received from the Field expressing gratitude for the Lesson-Sermons. We are glad to welcome the many churches and practitioners overseas whose cards have now been restored to The Christian Science Journal.

The progress of all the publications of The Christian Science Publishing Society is significantly justified in these assuring words of our Leader from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 354): "The night of materiality is far spent, and with the dawn Truth will waken men spiritually to hear and to speak the new tongue."

Reports from the Field

Encouraging are the messages received at this season from the branch churches and societies, showing that there is gratitude for unity with The Mother Church and a realization of the importance of forwarding the growth of our movement through more and better healing work. Extracts from only a few of the fine reports and letters could be read in the time allotted. They were read by Mrs. Leta Dexter Owen, of Chicago, Illinois, and Charles C. Paul, of Boston, Massachusetts.

Incidents of Christian Science Healing, Read by Robert Dolling Wells, of Seattle, Washington

In witness to the healing power of Christian Science to redeem men from discord, some carefully verified testimonies were read.

The meeting was adjourned after the singing of the Doxology.