Let the People Know

[Extracts from two relocation reports, the first from the executive board of a branch church, the second from the executive committee representing the churches uniting in the support of a large downtown Reading Room.]

The letter from The Christian Science Board of Directors dated August, 1948, pointing out the need for and the many advantages of a ground-floor Reading Room, was read at the annual meeting of our church the following June, at which time the members voted to form a ground-floor Reading Room committee.

The committee members agreed to do specific work in the interests of securing accessible ground-floor premises. Helpful articles from current Sentinels were read, and steps were outlined to scan carefully the downtown area. Each member was assigned certain tasks: looking up in the city records names of owners of buildings in the designated area; interviewing the owners or managers in that area; contacting leading real estate companies; watching newspapers and advertisements for information and checking all possibilities; writing necessary letters.

A large store in the heart of the business district was considered. The rent was high, but not prohibitive. There was ample space for the Reading Room and committee rooms. After prayerful consideration the committee presented the proposition to the church at the October meeting, and work was undertaken to realize the presence of the one Mind. The membership voted to rent this space. Before the lease was signed a lower rent was established, a longer term lease was granted, and the owner of the building donated a thousand dollars to improve the exterior.

The committee considered details of alterations, which gave a ten-foot display window and allowed for committee rooms in the rear. This was quite the opposite of the original plan, showing that Mind was directing each step. Also an air-conditioning system was installed.

"The Mother Church" by Joseph Armstrong was read and pondered, and thought was thereby inspired and strengthened. The same power which sustained the pioneer workers in Christian Science opened the way to meet each need.

The new Reading Room was opened to the public the following February. The name "Christian Science" appears at eye level; our textbooks are opened to references in the Lesson-Sermon and changed daily; The Christian Science Monitor is shown daily; other current periodicals and books are attractively displayed—all of which attract many, who stop and read. Some of them have come in to purchase the Monitor and inquire about Christian Science. The sale of all the periodicals has increased substantially, and the study room and the lending library have been more active.

The evening librarians have commented gratefully on the number of visitors they are serving, among them many of our own church members. There have been expressions of gratitude for the beautiful room, which has proved conducive to quiet study.

This committee is grateful for the unity, vision, and courage of participating churches which made the present excellent location of our Reading Room possible. Individual committee members are grateful too for spiritual growth experienced during the unfoldment of this important forward step.

The following incident, from a librarian's report, is indicative of the good that was accomplished by the mailing of announcements of the opening to those whose names were furnished to the committee by church members.

One who knew little of Christian Science came in to find out how to go about seeing a practitioner. He said that he had received an invitation to attend the opening of this Reading Room. He was unable to attend, but because of the announcement he had taken Christian Science literature from free distribution boxes and read it. Now he was ready to ask for Christian Science help. He was referred to the list of practitioners in The Christian Science Journal. In a few hours he returned to the Reading Room, after seeing a practitioner, to borrow a copy of Science and Health.

When the committee year began in July, 1949, the committee agreed to make the matter of finding a suitable ground-floor location for the Reading Room its first project. In August a ten-year lease was signed for its present ground-floor premises in a new downtown building. In January the new rooms were opened, the money on hand covering all cost incident to the opening.

New advertising in the Monitor has been one immediate result of the relocation and refurnishing of the Reading Room. One thousand air-borne copies of the Monitor were given to those who attended the two-day open house, which preceded the regular opening of the Reading Room, and to those with offices in the building.

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