With great wisdom the successive stages of the Christian Science movement have been inaugurated by our Leader. Instituted at times and on occasions opportune and auspicious, they have summoned to their fulfilment the voluntary, unconstrained co-operation of Scientists as individuals and as a body. Mrs. Eddy has nobly performed her share in indicating what is to be done, and it is due to her from us to see that what we do is done well.

The establishment of the Board of Lectureship is a case in point. Among the various media that are at the disposal of the Field for the public dissemination of Christian Science, our lectures in some respects afford the greatest possibilities. A lecture seldom falls on unwilling ears; it is always an authoritative presentation of Christian Science; it is readily conformable to the needs of the hour; it attains the most effective form of publicity, drawing audiences that in point of size and quality are convincing object-lessons to the observing world, and it receives a generous share of attention from the press which is far-reaching in its effects. In view of these and other facts it is to be seen that our lectures are doing valiant service.

That the Field is getting all the good out of them it should, cannot be so confidently asserted, and it may be profitable to consider how we can improve our opportunities by better work. No specific method of procedure can be laid down that will fitly apply to all cases, for each community has conditions peculiar to itself, which must be met in the way best adapted to those conditions; yet there are certain things common to all which must be handled uniformly. The Board of Lectureship has officially made provision for most of these in the printed circulars which are sent to the branch churches. The observance of the instructions they contain, or their neglect, may make or mar the success of our lectures.

In many of the churches the lecture is an event of but annual occurrence, and should always be prepared for with intelligent thoroughness and deliberation. Sometimes such preparation is disregarded or delayed, until, through press of time, it is hurried or poorly done. Then again it may be slighted because of ignorance of the right thing to do and the right time to do it. The writer has assisted in the arrangement of six lectures in as many years past, given by two small churches, and in each instance has learned something that was of distinct advantage for the next. In the hope that his experience may be helpful to the Field, he will describe in some detail the method under which a recent lecture was conducted. It must be understood that what is here set forth is in no wise to be regarded as a precise plan for others to follow from beginning to end. What succeeded with us might be less effective in another locality, and there may be other ways which are better than those here given. They are presented as having yielded satisfactory results on six different occasions. The last lecture given will be taken as typical of the others, as it embraced the essential features of those which preceded it.

The church has been organized for less than three years and has a membership of twenty-nine, with an average attendance of sixty-five. Nearly a year having elapsed since a lecture was given, an informal meeting of the church was held, at which the clerk was instructed to arrange a date, by correspondence with the lecturer. The chairman of the meeting briefly stated the general good that was directly traceable to the previous lecture; the benefits accruing to the individual members of the church through the extra work its preparation entailed, and the need of complying promptly with the rule of the Manual which stipulates that at least one lecture shall be given annually by each of the branch churches. All were counseled to seek the divine blessing upon their undertaking. It was pointed out that each member had an individual responsibility in protecting the undertaking from every thought of failure and insuring its success through proper scientific work.

The first thing to be confronted was the suggestion that the required money would be difficult to raise at this time, for various reasons; but especially in view of the fact that the membership is made up of bread-winners who of late had given generously in response to several special demands. But the claim of lack was met and handled as vigorously and positively as though it had been a claim of sickness or sin, for it was recognized as of the same evil origin. The financial demonstration was effected by using the system of anonymous subscription which has been found to work so well in other small churches. Blank slips of paper were distributed among those present, with the request that each should set down the amount he felt he could subscribe to the lecture fund. It was explained that no signature need appear on the slips; that they were not intended as obligations, but rather as indications of what was to be counted upon as a whole, and that they were not for public inspection. by this means personal comparison and complacency are eliminated and other mischievous diversions are anticipated and nullified. It was announced that the amount desired was about ninety dollars, and when the slips were counted the total was found to be $86.60. From former experiences we knew that this insured all expenses, for the original subscriptions had always been increased later on. In this instance the entire sum received was one hundred and twenty-seven dollars. This excess came in from various sources without solicitation of any kind. In passing, let me say that in the six years I have seen this system employed as above, I have never known of a single instance where a subscription so made was neglected, repudiated, or not promptly met as arranged.

A treasurer of this lecture fund was appointed at the meeting, one being wisely chosen whose attitude toward the claim of lack was known to be uncompromising and courageous. Suitable committees were selected to look after the printing and advertising, the renting of a hall, and other minor matters. The work of these committees was well done. They encountered the usual obstacles, but were faithful, both in prayer and in the employment of good common sense, and so overcame threatened ill at various times. Four days before the date of the lecture brief reading notices were inserted in the daily papers, calling attention to the lecture in a pleasing yet dignified manner. These notices were changed each day and were given good positions among the local items. Tasteful window cards were distributed in the prominent show windows, and large posters were painted and put up on each side of the entrance to the hall where the lecture was to be held. There is a common thought that storekeepers are reluctant to display these window cards, but the committee was not looking for opposition when they went out, and they encountered none. A day or two before the lecture they went over the same ground again, and got permission to re-arrange cards which had become displaced or removed for any cause. Courteous themselves, in thought as well as manner, they met with like treatment. One thousand invitation cards had been printed, that being double the seating capacity of the house. These cards were enclosed in envelopes for mailing and were of the best material and workmanship. Members were given all they could use to advantage, and the committee addressed and mailed in sealed envelopes about six hundred to those whom it was desired to reach. In this way the lecture was brought directly before the attention of many who otherwise might not have given it a single thought, and coming in the form of a personal invitation, it was in many instances accepted by those whose presence at the lecture was a surprise to their friends. One member who enclosed her personal card in a number of the invitations she sent, received kindly replies of acceptance or regret from people who had heretofore manifested no interest in anything pertaining to Christian Science.

On the night of the lecture, in the face of several counter-attractions, the house was filled to the doors with representative people of the town, many of whom made their first acquaintance with Christian Science on this occasion. More than four hundred copies of the Sentinel were taken home by the audience, the distributors being posted at intervals along the lobby, thus reaching all. Commendatory reports of the lecture and the introduction appeared in the local papers, which also published, without charge, a full synopsis of the lecture from copy furnished in advance. These newspapers were circulated by our members among those of their friends who desired to read and study the spoken words at their leisure. Many copies of a neighboring paper, which published the lecture verbatim, were also distributed in like manner, thus widely extending its sphere of usefulness.

The foregoing may be of little use to many of our large churches, to whom the giving of a lecture is not so momentous an event as with the smaller ones. But to those who are beginning, or to others who have not obtained satisfactory results, these experiences may be of help. Their value lies in the prominence given to the necessity for constant and faithful work on the part of every member, if the lecture is to be made a success in the truest sense of the word. Every Scientist in the community must feel a personal and individual sense of responsibility resting upon him which can only be discharged by conscientious endeavor. A few may be called on to do the material tasks requisite, but all have important obligations which cannot be delegated to others. This done, the harvest will be abundant, and the mission of the Board of Lectureship will be achieved.