Notices

Report on the College Organization September Meeting

On September 8 and 9, 1955, hundreds of university students gathered in the Original Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts, for the first meeting to be held in the interest of Christian Science College Organizations. College students from England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and the United States, representing one hundred and forty-one different universities, attended the two-day session which was arranged by the Department of Branches and Practitioners with the approval of The Christian Science Board of Directors.

In 1904 Mrs. Eddy placed the By-Law in the Church Manual (Art. XXIII, Sect. 8) which authorized the formation of Christian Science Organizations at colleges and universities. Since that time organizations have been established at institutions of higher learning in many parts of the world. The steady increase in the number of new organizations, the splendid growth of their memberships, the improved quality of their work for the Cause of Christian Science, gave rise to the need for considering the "what, how, whither" of the challenge at hand. The Mother Church accordingly provided for the gathering.

In October, 1954, an announcement was made to the organizations of the proposed meeting for members of The Mother Church who were college students or faculty. Organizations were invited to submit reports on their activities or papers on topics of particular interest. Students were invited to contribute testimonies of healing and experiences relating to their demonstration of Christian Science in their college work. The early fall was selected as a time for the meeting as it would enable those attending to return to their respective campuses at the opening of the fall term with many fresh ideas to contribute to their organizations. The travel expenses of those attending were borne by the students themselves, except in some instances where financial assistance was offered by interested friends.

The agenda for the meeting covered a wide variety of subjects of special interest to the students. Officials of The Mother Church and of The Christian Science Publishing Society gave brief talks to help the students become better acquainted with the activities of our Cause. An early worker who knew Mrs. Eddy spoke to the students about the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. An afternoon workshop was conducted during which questions and answers relating to the progress of the individual collegian, as well as of his organization, were considered. An evening seminar dealt with other specific topics of interest.

Shortly after they arrived, students and faculty were introduced to The Christian Science Board of Directors in the Board Room. The Friday afternoon portion of the meeting was devoted to listening to organization reports and the testimonies or experiences of the students.

After the formal part of the meeting had adjourned, The Christian Science Monitor Youth Forum planned a program for the visiting collegians. The next morning there were tours to Mrs. Eddy's Chestnut Hill home and to other landmarks in the Boston area of interest to all Christian Scientists.

For all attending, the meeting provided inspiration to go forward with the organizations' vital mission of presenting the Christianly scientific message of hope and salvation to the young leaders of tomorrow. Pioneers in a great spiritual adventure, these collegians are treading the pathway our Leader writes about (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 158): "All God's servants are minute men and women. As of old, I stand with sandals on and staff in hand, waiting for the watchword and the revelation of what, how, whither. Let us be faithful and obedient, and God will do the rest."

From the Treasurer of The Mother Church

Payments of per capita tax and contributions, also changes of address, should be sent to Roy Garrett Watson, Treasurer, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston 15, Massachusetts, U. S. A.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Church Services and Reading Rooms

December 3, 1955

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit