CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS ISSUE SPECIAL MESSAGE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27987, 6 June 1956, Page 11

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS ISSUE SPECIAL MESSAGE

BOSTON, June 4.

“Nothing but Christ’s Christianity can supply the answer to the tremendously challenging problems facing humanity,” the Christian Science board of directors said today in a special statement. ‘‘The world needs the science of Christianity as it has never needed it before.”

Thousands of Christian Scientists from many parts of the world heard the directors’ message at the annual meeting of the mother church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. Massachusetts.

“With the breaking of the barriers of time and space the mental outlook of men stands out in increasingly sharp relief, revealing an unprecedented clashing of ideologies.” said the directors. “Materia medica is more and more tracing physical effects to mental causes. The churches are reaching out for spiritual healing. /‘Application of the healing power of the Christ, Truth, demands individual consecration. We need to retain the spirit of the sturdy pioneer, to guard against apathy, superficiality, and the intoxication of ease in mat-

The directors’ message was read by Mr Theodore Wallach, retiring first reader of the Mother '.Church,, during a session at which progress was reported on the far-flung activities of the denomination which now has branches in some 48 countries.

In his address. Mr Clifford A. Wood--of Cambridge, Massachusetts Christian Science practitioner and incoming president of the Mother Church, emphasised the vital role of practical Christianity today. “Humanity,-” he said, ‘‘sorely needs our prayers and all the help that Christian Science can give to solve the world’s troubles and problems. What can melt away the evils of a ‘cold war’ but the warmth of affections enriched bv the Word of God? What can still the ambition to rule the whole world but the realisation that, as the Psalmist assures us. ‘Power belongeth unto God.’ and His kingdom ruleth over all’?” The audience filled three auditoriums in the Mother Church edifice* as well as a nearby theatre. Adherents travelled from every State in the union and from Europe, Asia, Australia, and I

many otfrer distant points to attend. Growing interest in spiritual healing as a result of the television ■ and radio series, “How Christian Science Heals.” was reported by a number of key officials, including Mr Roy Garrett Watson, treasurer, and Mr Gordon V. Comer, clerk.

■Mr Will B. Davis, manager of committees on publication, said: “The response has been most gratifying. We are receiving reports of increased church and lecture attendance and increased use of our free reading rooms.”

Nearly 200 television stations in the United States and Canada have carried the filmed Christian Science TV programmes, Mr Davis reported. Radio programmes in the series will continue to be broadcast by more than 800 stations throughout the world. Healing in Christian Science of sin, disease, and other everyday problems were reported by the Christian Science Board of Lectureship in a report read by Mr James Harry Mcßeynolds, of Dallas, Texas. Reporting for the trustees of the Christian Science Publishing Society, Mr John H. Hoagland, manager, said that testimonies submitted during the year for publication in the denomination’s weekly, monthly, and quarterly religious periodicals included welldocumented healings of cancer, tuberculosis, paralysis, blindness, deafness, carious bones and physical deformity More than 250,000 dollars a year has been expended to provide for the physical, mental, moral. and spiritual welfare of the' armed forces, according to a report by Mr Richard H. Chase, manager of Christian Science activities for the armed services. A marked increase in sales of the Christian Science textbook “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy, discoverer and founder of Christian Science, was announced by the trustees under her will.

During the year many new branches or the Mother Church were established, it was reported, including those in Miranda, Australia; Barnstaple ancj Sidmouth, Devonshire, England; Dortmund and Trier, Germany; Helsinki, Finland; Asan Point, Guam; and Vlaardingen, Netherlands.