A Record of unparalleled accomplishment, ever broadening interest, and greater activity, with a stirring appeal for a still larger measure of consecration to the demonstration of Christian Science in its application to present human needs, characterized the proceedings of the Annual Meeting of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, held in the church edifice, Falmouth and Norway Streets, Boston, Monday afternoon, June 3. The church was filled to capacity when the meeting was opened at two o'clock by the retiring President, William D. McCrackan. After singing hymn 195, "Shepherd, show me how to go," by Mary Baker Eddy, selections were read from the Bible and from the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, as follows:—

Bible: Psalms 103:1–12, 19–22; Matt. 18:1–6, 10–14.

Science and Health: 33:18 to 9 next page; 568:24 to 569:14; 570:1–7, 14–25.

After the readings the congregation joined in silent prayer follwed by the audible repetition of the Lord's Prayer. Hymn 170, "How firm a foundation," was then sung, after which the names of officers for the coming year were read by Mr. McCrackan, and are as follows:—

President Dr. Francis J. Fluno, C.S.D., of Oakland, California; Treasurer, William R. Rathvon, C.S.B., Denver, Colorado; Clerk, Charles E. Jarvis, Boston.

The retiring President, Mr. McCrackan, then delivered the following address:—

As President of The Mother Church I want to express to you, first of all, my thanks for the loyal support you have given the cause during the past year. I want to thank you for your healing works and the spiritual joy you have expressed to the world. This spiritual joy is like a mental submarine chaser, chasing away all the subtle plans of evil manipulations. There is an eternal disappearance of matter and a forever appearance of the supremacy of Spirit. There is something wonderfully divine going on in the world to-day,—the blooming of God's ideas. There is bliss in their sweet fragrance.

At this momentous hour we must mentally hear the cry of victory. Victory should crown our spiritual vision. Let Victory! Victory! Victory! three times repeated, resound above the din of the world's cry of distress. Let Spirit be our source of information; then we shall not be deceived by the pretenses of the physical senses. Victory is the one great demonstration to be made before peace can be enjoyed. All evil manipulations must be uncovered before the world can enjoy the triumphant march of victory. We are here as winged messengers of countless victories. Overcoming self in daily life brings forward good desires, pure purposes, and the courage of righteous conviction, actuated by divine power.

Christian Scientists, you can take the reins of pure victory in your hands. God gives you the spiritual understanding to free the world from hypnotism, apathy, hypnotic neutral arguments. There is no power in war atrocities used to hypnotize whole nations by misrepresenting barbaric cruelty; God's name cannot be used as a hiding place. Victory for truth cannot be erased from your thought nor taken out of the consciousness of a righteous world. The history of real victory is already written, and was with God before the world was. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" is the interpretation of that victory. In that book Mrs. Eddy has given two chapters uncovering the error now raging in consciousness. They are "Christian Science versus Spiritualism" and "Animal Magnetism Unmasked." The equipment of arms to meet and destroy the enemy is found in these two chapters.

Cannot we out of gratitude and obedience to God decide this day that the world is going to be fit to live in because of our healing works and our righteous thinking? We can all be Daniels and face the lions of to-day; and Josephs, forgiving our brethren and interpreting dreams with our spiritual vision. We can all go forth with courage unto victory, and overcome the flesh with Spirit, destroy hate with Love, and banish death with Life. There can be no hate nor resentment in a victory filled with the power of God.

Men at this hour of male domination need to learn womanly qualities, and the womanly man needs to learn manly qualities. Womanly women need to learn manly qualities, and manly women need to learn womanly qualities. Our Leader writes on page 249 of Science and Health, "Let the 'male and female' of God's creating appear." The Bible tells us of the curse on Adam,—that he was driven from Paradise and made to eat bread in the sweet of his face, and that Eve was cursed to suffer and be ruled by Adam. Let us take off these curses. We can do this by understanding that we are not descendants of Adam and Eve, but of Father-Mother God, who places no curse on man. If one takes delight in a good or bad reputation, in popularity, in being seen of men, false pride and these beliefs cause human experiences which lead to a fallen man. Not much is said of the fallen woman, except that she is known to be worse. That is enough. Normality of Spirit is the law of divine Science for Christian Scientists to follow.

There have been some wonderful healings experienced since we last met here. Many of the parents and relatives of the soldiers and sailors have learned more of the comforting, loving care of God in the hour of war. These men who stand for liberty and the rights of all mankind have been protected and given strength and courage to carry out their duties with power. I feel humbly grateful to them that they are fighting a battle for God, for you, and for me. We cannot do enough for these righteous warriors. Recently I have had the privilege of helping the soldiers and sailors at different forts in Boston Harbor. The faces of these boys from farms, factories, and colleges, and from almost every walk of life told me that they were being well trained. Are we ready to be trained to respond to God, to be willing instruments of His will? His will obeyed by us gives health, happiness, and all good.

Let this year, 1918, be the beginning of a new world, of an everlasting peace of Principle in which men and women become like little children, having the purity of the mind of the Christ. Obedience to spiritual thinking rends the veil of materialism for the world. Let the sick, the sinning, the bereaved, the hungry and thirsty be able to say of each one of us, as we read in the Song of Solomon, "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." I, myself, came to the spiritual feast of Christian Science because I was unhappy. Everything else had failed me. I also saw in Christian Science the solution of world problems. During the past year my life was saved, and I desire to give this grateful acknowledgment of Christian Science healing. I know this very kind of healing is what has made it possible for so many of you to be here to-day.

Let us extend our healing works to the whole world. We must awake to the mental manipulations of oriental magic and scholastic priestcraft. Ruthless militancy and medical domination are their outcome. Are we aware that the necromancers of to-day pretend to sit in the high seats of authority and to mesmerize the world with their mental suggestions and hypnotic tricks? The world war is the explosion of the highest form of evil destroying itself. As this darkness is wiped out with spiritual understanding victory will follow, and the dove of eternal peace will descend with the light of heaven upon a waiting world. There should be no defensive waiting for the enemy, but a forward march to victory, making the offensive the uncovering of all error. Error is an offense, so it can be attacked and destroyed. There can be no discussion of nor concession to a false peace. God's joyous victory only can establish real peace.

Mrs. Eddy opened the way for this, and our gratitude should increase continually. If we as Christian Scientists do not fully appreciate the most wonderful woman of all ages, how can the world appreciate her and be expected to be healed through her teachings? Yes, the world claims we worship Mrs. Eddy. Why this? Because the enemy does not want woman to lighten the world nor to fill a place of power. The enemy wants to keep the world in darkness. But let us be awake, that mental manipulation cannot instill fear into our thoughts, nor suppress our ardor, nor make us withhold our gratitude. We know that her ever present love has never left us.

The new President, Doctor Fluno, replied as follows:—

Once more we are assembled here in this our Annual Meeting, one of the many thoughtful and wise provisions of our revered Leader. It is a joy to meet, and take each other by the hand with that confidence and assurance that we are all of one mind in one place, each intent on solving the great problem of being, according to the one divine Principle; each ready and willing to "help each other, ... each other's cross to bear."

Our gratitude to our dear Leader is unbounded when we consider the wonderful wisdom she expressed in founding this so great a movement,—organizing The Mother Church, making all the arrangements for its growth and maintenance, both financial and spiritual; providing for the formation and organization of branch churches and societies all over the world; giving us the Manual, which is our sufficient guide in the government of The Mother Church and of the branch churches, so wonderfully based on the divine Principle, Truth and Love, strong in its demands for justice and right, and fraught with the golden rule, making it adequate not only for the present needs but for all time to come.

We are all with one accord in sympathy with the Board of Directors in the noble work they are doing, so faithful in the discharge of their duty, not only looking after the local needs, but promoting and supervising the Christian Science movement throughout the world. We are all here to listen to the reports of what has been accomplished during the past year and to get new incentives and ideas of the line of procedure for the year that is now before us.

Speaking after the manner of men, we, as a nation, are in the midst of a gigantic struggle. All eyes are turned to the East where

Anxious mothers with anxious hearts are looking for that consolation and rest for which the weary ones sigh, found only in that Love which passeth all human understanding.

We need more than ever to double our diligence and alertness in fortifying our strongholds against the intrusion of hatred and malice, and against all the hosts of the evil one. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Methinks if our revered Leader and Pastor Emeritus were personally with us to-day, her message to us would doubtless be fraught with thanksgiving and rejoicing over the accomplishments of the years that are past. She would speak with praise and commendation of the faithful work of the officers and band of allied workers in the church of her love. Her heart would surely overflow with gratitude and thanksgiving that the members of The Mother Church stand shoulder to shoulder with the Directors and official workers, as well as with those who so faithfully are attending to the work of our publications and periodicals, upholding and sustaining one another in one solid phalanx, impervious to the foes of criticism, faultfinding, and denunciation. Her ardent desire toward us would be that we love one another; that however much of kindness, of true friendship and brotherly love we had practiced in the years that are past, we should realize that there is still room for more in the years that are to come. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 250) she says, "I make strong demands on love." To our Leader, love was not a prescription to be given to one and withheld from another. It was not a garment to be changed to suit the season, to be donned when she went out and doffed on her return. Love was the staff on which she leaned, the strength of her being, and the joy of her life. The larger her check and the more frequently she drew on Love the greater was her bank account of spiritual wealth. Indeed, in proportion as she drew, her principal increased not only in arithmetical but in geometrical ratio. She certainly would admonish us to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us.

She would encourage all the activities in which our church membership is engaged,—giving comfort to our brave soldiers in the Army and Navy, dispensing literature to them and caring for their spiritual welfare in this their time of need: giving food, clothing, and shelter to the starving, destitute, and homeless; and she would no doubt be a liberal contributor herself.

She would surely commend us in upholding our Government, in standing by our President and his cabinet and the Congress of our much loved country, and in honoring them so long as they seek to honor God and revere His holy name.

Our revered Leader, on page 278 of Miscellany, says: "The government of divine Love is supreme. Love rules theuniverse, and its edict hath gone forth: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me,' and 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' Let us have the molecule of faith that removes mountains,—faith armed with the understanding of Love, as in divine Science, where right reigneth. The revered President and Congress of our favored land are in God's hands."

Report of the Treasurer

The report of the Treasurer, which was in part as follows, was then read by Bliss Knapp:—

The Treasurer of The Mother Church reported the balances on hand in the various funds of The Mother Church, indicating the financial affairs of the church to be in a prosperous condition.

Referring to the War Relief fund, the Treasurer stated that it is the desire of Christian Scientists, as it should be of all others, to do everything possible for the comfort and welfare of the military and civil population in the war-stricken areas of Europe, and wisely to make use of such agencies as may be in their power to contribute for that purpose. Committees of Christian Scientists have been formed in many of the European countries, and through them we are in a position to render the most efficient relief work in the mitigation of human suffering. These committees are bringing comfort and cheer to the homes of those who are in distress through hunger and other forms of deprivation attendant upon the war.

Where the work has been inaccessible to our own committees, as in Poland and Armenia, we have contributed money through duly authorized and accredited relief committees designated by the State Department. By these several methods our contributions have gone to Armenia, Syria, Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Rumania, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, France, England, Canada, Australia, and, before hostilities interfered, to Germany. They have also gone to the Y.M.C.A., the Comforts Forwarding committee of Christian Scientists and other benevolent organizations. Our activities are extended to all alike, of whatever race or creed, who are found upon investigation to be in need.

We take this opportunity to thank the generous contributors who have by their loving cooperation made possible this abundant fruitage of "practical, operative Christian Science," referred to by Mrs. Eddy on page 207 of "Miscellaneous Writings."

Report of the Clerk of the Mother Church

By Mr. Jarvis.—In the Christian Science Sentinel for October 27, 1917, there appeared an announcement from The Christian Science Board of Directors to the effect that the growth of our movement had reached a point where the duties of administration made such demands upon the Directors' time that it made it necessary for the Directors to be relieved from holding other church offices. As an indication of this growth it is interesting to note that where only a few years ago the work of the Directors usually required less than one afternoon a week, it has become necessary during the past year that they devote almost their entire time to consideration of the affairs of The Mother Church, many of their meetings taking up the entire day. Aside from these many meetings, there is at all times a quorum of the Board available in case of need.

The entry of the United States into the world struggle for the cause of righteous government has brought to The Mother Church new opportunities which are being recorded as a series of victories, and it is our pleasure to present to you in the briefest way some of the recent footsteps of progress which have only been possible because of the unerring operation of Principle, as exemplified and taught by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. In grateful recognition of her wonderful gift to humanity, let us remember that whatever is capable of accomplishment by the Christian Science movement to-day has been made possible primarily and solely because of her untiring efforts and achievements.

The Clerk of The Mother Church is not a member of the Board of Directors, although the same individual acts as the Corresponding Secretary for the Board. Technically speaking, therefore, the Clerk's report deals only with those features of the work of The Mother Church which come directly within the province of his office.

It is with much gratitude that we are again able to report a substantial increase in our membership, the growth of which has been continuous and consistent since the inception of the Christian Science movement. The hearty spirit of cooperation on the part of those upon whom rests the responsibility of approving applicants for membership in The Mother Church; the increasing tendency of students to gain the blessing of branch church experience before uniting with the parent organization, and the growing sense of appreciation of the spiritual significance of Mother Church membership are all wholesome indications which assure the maintenance of the high standard for Christian Scientists set for us by Mrs. Eddy, to which reference was made at our last Annual Meeting, and which is so vitally essential to the growth and virility of our movement. Mrs. Eddy says on page 367 of our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "A Christian Scientist occupies the place at this period of which Jesus spoke to his disciples, when he said: 'Ye are the salt of the earth.' 'Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.' Let us watch, work, and pray that this salt lose not its saltness, and that this light be not hid, but radiate and glow into noontide glory."

During the year, 1968 Christian Science lectures have been delivered to an aggregate of 1,385,388 people. This has included six lectures delivered in The Mother Church to approximately 25,000 persons. Although traveling facilities have been curtailed to a certain degree, members of the board of lectureship have responded to invitations and delivered lectures in the British Isles, Canal Zone, Alaska and the Yukon, China, Japan, the Philippine and Hawaiian Islands, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Recalling the time when it was more or less difficult to have a Christian Science lecture published in a newspaper except at regular advertising rates, we have much cause for gratitude in the changed attitude of the press. It is now not an uncommon experience for a newspaper to seek the privilege of publishing the complete text of a Christian Science lecture because of its news value, and in some of the larger cities the full report of a Christian Science lecture appears in one or more of the daily papers immediately following its delivery.

While on the subject of lectures, it may not be amiss to again call attention to the desirability of each branch church required to give a lecture and each society which intends to avail itself of its privilege of calling a lecturer, completing its arrangements for the coming lecture year as promptly as possible after the personnel of the board of lectureship is announced. This plan will be found mutually advantageous for all concerned.

Since our last Annual Meeting, there have been fifty new branch organizations added to the cards appearing in the Journal, which now show a total of 1776 Christian Science churches and societies. During this same period the increased number of those devoting their entire time to the practice of Christian Science as evidenced by The Christian Science Journal has grown to 6131, a net increase of 176 new names.

The Christian Science Publishing Society

A most important development in connection with the work of The Christian Science Publishing Society was the arrangement made between the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy and the trustees of the Publishing Society, whereby the Publishing Society became the publisher of all our Leader's works. This makes The Christian Science Publishing Society the sole publisher of all authorized Christian Science literature.

Science and Health is published in English, in English-French and in English-German, with the translations on the pages opposite the inspired English text. The publication of our Leader's works is handled by the Publishing Society through a department known as the Department of Mrs. Eddy's Works. The sale of all our Leader's works is constantly growing.

The work of the Publishing Society has grown, as evidenced by the increased number of employees connected with it; and in addition, to complete the equipment of machinery, there has been installed a large rotary press for printing the Sentinel, making two presses which print the Sentinel complete, binding it and delivering it ready for mailing. A rotary press for printing Quarterlies and pamphlets has also been installed.

The Herald is published in English-German and English-French, having the English text on alternate pages with the translation. All translations of Christian Science literature are now being printed with the English text and its translation on opposite pages. The Publishing Society issues for the soldiers vest pocket editions of Science and Health, the Quarterly, a song book, and pamphlets; a vest pocket edition of our Leader's works "Rudimental Divine Science" and "No and Yes," is in course of preparation.

The circulation of our daily newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, is steadily increasing, and the paper is going throughout the world, as our Leader says, "to spread undivided the Science that operates unspent" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 353).

Statement by the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy

During the year ending May 31, 1918, the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy have expended "for the purpose of more effectually promoting and extending the religion of Christian Science as taught by" our revered Leader, the sum of $455,741.31. This amount has been disbursed as follows:—

Churches and Societies.—$4400 was given to branch churches and societies in the war zone to assist in maintaining Christian Science services and other church activities without interruption. $14,750.57 was given as assistance to churches and societies in paying the expenses incident to their first lectures, and the Christian Science organizations at universities and colleges in paying the expenses of annual lectures; also, under certain restrictions, in paying a part of the traveling expenses of lecturers who responded to calls from foreign fields. $200,585.69 was paid to fifty-three branch churches and societies to assist them in erecting, purchasing, and remodeling church edifices. These fifty-three church properties are valued at more than a million dollars.

Free Distribution of Literature.—$100,730.02 was contributed to 1116 churches and societies whose reports for the year ending October 31, 1917, indicated that they were entitled to assistance in the free distribution of authorized Christian Science literature. It is interesting to note that these reports show an expenditure for literature and mailing of $271,660.04, which is $61,349.89 more than the reports for 1916 indicated. $42,290.33 was expended in assisting churches and societies in the purchase of authorized Christian Science literature presented to public and other lending libraries and to soldiers and sailors. This expenditure covers 22,874 vest pocket editions of Science and Health and 878,655 other authorized books and periodicals. $66,788.14 was expended for 2,436,987 periodicals and pamphlets distributed among officers and men in the military and naval service of our European allies. $26,196.56 was expended in the purchase of 6033 copies of the Christian Science textbook and other works on Christian Science by Mrs. Eddy, and 338,783 pieces of other authorized literature, including books, pamphlets, and periodicals, donated to free lending libraries.

The Christian Science Benevolent Association

The field will be glad to learn that work is well under way on the buildings to be erected on Single Tree Hill, Brookline. The excavating and foundations are about half completed for the first units of the group of buildings to be built at this time, consisting of the administration building, dormitories F and G, kitchen ell, power plant, and laundry. Under ordinary conditions it would be at least a year before these buildings could be completed.

Committee on Publication

The attitude of public officials toward the Christian Science movement is growing more friendly as time goes on, and there is a disposition, in English speaking countries at least, to accord a just recognition to our cause. The appointment of Christian Scientists as chaplains in the United States Army and Navy, the action of the United States Fuel Administrator in changing his fuel order during heatless days so as to provide heat for the offices of Christian Science practitioners, and the fact that the Department of Labor allowed an immigrant to remain in this country under Christian Science treatment when otherwise he would have been ineligible, are significant evidences that our movement is attaining the place in world affairs foreseen for it by our Leader.

The Christian Science War Relief and Camp Welfare Committee

The organized activities of this committee started in November, 1917. On the seventeenth of that month, The Christian Science Board of Directors advised the three largest churches in each state that a conference of churches and societies of that state could be called to consider a coordinated plan for Christian Science activities in the camps of the United States Army throughout the country, and also in the large naval concentration points, and that a representative of this committee could attend the conferences prepared to recommend a coordinated plan approved by the Board of Directors. As a result of this letter, state conferences were held and committees were formed to assume jurisdiction of the camp welfare work in their states.

As an outcome of the activities of these state committees, camp welfare workers have been placed in the cities and towns adjacent to all of the national Army cantonments, National Guard camps, many of the larger Army posts, at the principal embarking points, and also at several important naval points, and welfare rooms have been opened at a number of places where the need for this sort of room was very evident.

It is the duty of the workers to keep in touch with all of the Christian Science soldiers or sailors in the camps to which they are assigned, and also at their discretion to make available The Christian Science Monitor to all, Scientists and non-Scientists alike. These welfare workers are also providing vest pocket editions of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, the vest pocket Quarterly, and the vest pocket song book, consisting of sixty specially selected hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal, as well as subscriptions to our periodicals, to all of the Christian Scientists and to such other soldiers and sailors as are sufficiently interested to request them. Christian Science soldiers and sailors are being encouraged by these workers to hold their own Christian Science services, and the fruitage from this branch of the work has been cause for great gratitude. Reports already received indicate that a considerable amount of healing work has been accomplished. Soldiers report a much greater sense of protection, and many instances of families helped through the efforts of the committees are on record.

On March 26, 1918, the Christian Science War Relief and the Christian Science Camp Welfare funds were combined, and at present the name of the committee is The Christian Science War Relief and Camp Welfare Committee.

A cable has just been received announcing the arrival in Paris of a party of ten workers, sent to France by this committee. It will be the duty of these workers to extend the War Relief work carried on through Christian Scientists in France since the beginning of hostilities. Funds for the Christian Science War Relief and Camp Welfare work have been contributed by Christian Scientists throughout the world, and this aid has not been confined to Christian Scientists, but has been extended without restriction to all in need of help.

The achievements of the year just ended are inspiring proofs to us that God is directing the Christian Science movement, founded as a part of our inspired Leader's demonstration, and to-day more than ever before we realize that we are not without her influence. She says to us in her Message to The Mother Church for 1900, "... I am with thee, heart answering to heart, and mine to thine in the glow of divine reflection." Referring to those who are on their way "in their passage from sense to Soul," she says (Science and Health, p. 566), "Stately Science pauses not, but moves before them, a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, leading to divine heights." Let us remember that ours is a sacred heritage, and that Mrs. Eddy tells us how we may defend that heritage in these words, found on page 86 of "Retrospection and Introspection": "To energize wholesome spiritual warfare, to rebuke vainglory, to offset boastful emptiness, to crown patient toil, and rejoice in the spirit and power of Christian Science, we must ourselves be true."

Dwell not on days of sorrow that are past;
Dim not with fears the future's cloudless way;
Rest in the knowledge of God's allness vast,
And good—His presence—is thine own each day.

Laura Gerahty.