Their Progress Inevitable as Church Members Progress

[Note: Excerpts from a report submitted to the Reading Room Division by the executive board of a branch church]

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

For at least sixteen years the members of this church had realized that the Reading Room in the church edifice, which is in a residential area, was not fulfilling the purpose for which it was established. Annually we discussed a change, and each time the members were fearful of the undertaking and nothing was done.

Early in 1954 the members decided to do specific metaphysical work on Church. To share the results of this individual study, two groups were formed. Those who found it most convenient to meet in the afternoon did so for a three months' period. A second group then met evenings for three months. The members of this latter group so enjoyed their meetings that they asked for permission to continue. There must have been a need for a more spiritual understanding of Church, for now we are seeing the results of this special study in increased church attendance and a new ground-floor Reading Room located downtown.

A group of Christian Scientists who were holding services in a private home in a town about thirty miles south of Cape Girardeau discontinued their services when several of the families moved away. They had accumulated a sum of money which was given to us, as the nearest recognized branch of The Mother Church, to be used for our growth and progress. It was decided by the board to add this to our Reading Room fund in anticipation of the move to a downtown ground-floor location.

About this time some of our members noticed an empty display window in an excellent part of the main business district. In endeavoring to learn if it could be rented, they found that the shop itself might also be vacated. Refusal of the premises was requested, and a report of the action taken was given at a membership meeting. Again no definite decision was made, and the undertaking was dismissed as improbable. Shortly, however, the shop was vacated, and we were given the opportunity to rent it, but an immediate decision was necessary. An emergency meeting of the members was called at which it was voted to rent these premises and to take the steps needed to make them suitable for our Reading Room.

Some of our immediate needs were met at a very low figure by the purchase of a number of items from the former tenant. The floor covering which he had been using was one of these. It was of excellent quality, in very good condition, and adds greatly to the soundproofing of the room. The walls of the room were painted almost the exact shade of the bookcases which we were using for the bound volumes in our church-edifice Reading Room. A desk for the librarian and sectional bookcases for the lending library were obtained secondhand and painted to match the bound volume bookcases. A new plywood flooring and matching display racks were made for the window. An awning was purchased to protect the window displays from the intense sunlight.

There are other details still to be worked out as a result of inspiration, unfoldment, and demonstration in order to complete our Reading Room. Nevertheless, we are rejoicing in the opportunities our new location affords us to make Christian Science better known and more readily accepted locally.

Membership response to our new Reading Room is being tested. In our church edifice we had a Reading Room open four hours a week. In our new quarters we have one open thirty-six hours a week.

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