Christian Science War Time Activities/Chapter 09
IX
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
A WORD FROM THE TREASURER OF THE MOTHER CHURCH
In October, 1914, the War Relief Fund of The Mother Church was opened for the purpose of aiding Christian Scientists who were suffering as a direct result of the war. In addition thereto the European Relief Fund was opened in December, 1914, to assist those who were not Christian Scientists. These two funds were consolidated in April, 1915, from which date, until the present time, relief was extended to those in need, without regard to their religious affiliations.
As appropriations from the War Relief Fund were made to various countries in Europe, including Germany, prior to the United States entering the war in April, 1917, British subjects were estopped by their Government from contributing to such a fund. In order that contributions might properly be received from them, a Special War Relief Fund was provided early in 1917, but before any appropriations could be made therefrom, it was merged with the War Relief Fund upon the removal of such restriction.
With the entrance of the United States into the war, the great opportunity presented itself of ministering to the temporal and spiritual welfare of the men in the army and navy service. To provide adequately the funds needed for carrying on this work, the field was invited to contribute to the Christian Science Camp Welfare Fund, which was formally opened on January 3, 1918. As the broad purpose and essential unity of the War Relief work in all its phases became more clearly understood, it was deemed advisable by the Christian Science Board of Directors to consolidate this fund with the War Relief Fund, which was effected on March 25, 1918, under the name of the Christian Science War Relief Fund.
In the interim, a special fund was opened to which contributions were received for Halifax Relief, which money was paid into, and appropriations made from, the Christian Science War Relief Fund, for the specific purpose of relieving those suffering from the disaster in Halifax, in December, 1917.
Including the sum of $34,000 contributed for Halifax Relief, the total contributions for War Relief from the beginning to the formal closing of the fund on June 2, 1919, were $1,988,000. Receipts from interest on daily bank balances and on United States Liberty Bonds purchased when there was an ample balance on hand to permit of this being done, amounted to $16,000, which made a full $2,000,000 available for War Relief.
Among the larger appropriations for direct relief in Europe were the following: Switzerland $75,000, Italy $42,000, Holland $29,000, Germany $68,000. All of this money was distributed directly to the recipients by the War Relief Committees of The Mother Church, who carefully investigated each case before relief was extended, and who performed this service with unstinted devotion and without financial compensation.
As the needs became clearly apparent, additional appropriations in varying amounts were made to Armenia, Syria, Belgium, Poland, Roumania, Serbia, Lithuania, Russia, Turkey in Asia, Jamaica, Australia, Canada and Mexico, totaling $88,000.
The larger appropriations of $186,000 to Great Britain and Ireland, and $214,000 to France, included not only the relief extended in these countries during the earlier part of the war through the Committees of The Mother Church therein, but also the direct assistance given to the men in the service, the conducting of the special Reading Rooms established for their use, the salaries and expenses of the War Relief Workers, and to an extent the distribution of Christian Science literature.
Remembering the paramount consideration of winning the war for Principle, and the necessity of accomplishing this result in the most effective manner through equipping the men in the army and navy for the great task before them, demands were made upon the War Relief Fund for the supplying of Bibles, copies of Science and Health and of The Christian Science Monitor, pamphlets and other authorized Christian Science literature, to the amount of $323,000. In the effort to accomplish fully the great purpose in hand, workers were employed for the various camps, and ports of embarkation; welfare buildings, and other reading and rest rooms in convenient locations, were provided; and also such automobiles and other facilities as were needed for carrying on the work; all of which required a further expenditure of $627,000, the major portion thereof being disbursed in the United States. This sum includes also the salaries paid to the Christian Science chaplains in the service,—which were additional to the amounts received by them from the United States Government,—as well as the cost of the general administration of the work as a whole.
Still another large appropriation was that of $111,000 to the Comforts Forwarding Committee (Christian Scientists), in Boston, whose efforts were directed primarily to the provision of clothing imperatively needed by refugees, especially women and children, and of knitted garments for the men in the military and naval service. Additional to this sum were the many contributions, totaling a substantial amount, made by Christian Scientists to the many Comforts Forwarding Committees elsewhere, for the carrying on of their work. Besides the total funds thus made available for this practical phase of War Relief, hundreds of Workers in the field gave their time freely and lovingly to this beneficent activity.
Including balance on hand June 2, 1919,—since which date no contributions have been accepted,—and proceeds from sale of equipment, there remains a balance of $242,000 in cash and bonds for continuing refugee and reconstruction work.
Christian Scientists may well rejoice in the genuine relief afforded, and the manifest healing of fear, limitation, and distress, both physical and mental, accomplished on every hand through the compassionate ministrations of Christian Science, in acknowledgment of which many voluntary testimonials have been received, a few being given in other chapters of this report.
Deeply grateful for the prompt, continuous and loving contributions by Christian Scientists to the War Relief Fund established by The Mother Church in evidence of the “practical Christianity” to which our revered Leader refers in Science and Health (page 224-22), we are reminded of her beautiful and inspiring statement on page 518 therein:
“The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother's need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another's good. Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality, and goodness, which shine through all as the blossom shines through the bud. All the varied expressions of God reflect health, holiness, immortality—infinite Life, Truth, and Love.”
Where did these large sums of money come from, and why did the contributions to the War Relief Fund pour into the Treasurer's Office so generously, so steadily and so abundantly? Perhaps the following excerpts from letters will best answer these questions.
A Grand Army man helps the boys of today:
“On my way to Hampton the other day I noticed a Christian Science wagon on the road being used for the benefit of the military in this neighborhood. Enclosed please find check for the Christian Science organization to be used for our boys in the United States service.”
The children of an Alaska Sunday School have a part in the work:
“The children of our Sunday School ask you to kindly accept this amount as their contribution toward supplying literature for the boys at the front.”
A little boy adds his savings:
“Enclosed find check for $15 with love and gratitude for all the unfoldment of Truth which this beautiful work is doing. I am only a little boy of ten years but I know what Christian Science means at this time to our brave boys. This is just a little of my savings.”
The Busy Bee Fund bears compound interest:
“I am enclosing the check I mentioned (from the Busy Bee Fund) to pay for the Bible and if you can use the small remainder I shall be very happy.”
Some unorganized Scientists send their share:
“We had a beautiful service in my home in the mountains of Virginia, Sunday, October 20. Nine were present. Enclosed find check for $20 which this household sends as a ‘Thank Offering’ for the many blessings received through the understanding of Christian Science.”
Some soldiers in Eagle Pass, Texas, forward their collection:
“Enclosed find one Postal Money Order for $5, this being the amount collected at our Sunday services to be used for the Camp Welfare Fund. It is only a small token of our gratitude for many benefits received but it is joyfully given.”
A soldier's gratitude for healing:
“I am indeed grateful for the healing received and enclose a small check to be used so that Science and Health may be placed in the hands of other boys.”
A Students' Association gives the Fund its loyal support:
“Enclosed please find check for one hundred dollars made out to the Treasurer of The Mother Church which amount is a contribution to the Camp Welfare Fund by the Students' Association of Mrs. S.”
An English soldier sends Christmas greetings:
“I should like to contribute the enclosed as a token this Christmas of my gratitude for all that I owe to Christian Science during the last five years.”
“Before they call I will answer”:
“I am enclosing a small contribution to the War Relief and Camp Welfare Fund. I wish to assure you that I appreciate this great work for the soldiers. I wrote you that my son was in a hospital in France, hoping you could send help to him, but already your Workers had visited him, as he said, bringing joy and hope. They supplied him with Monitors, Sentinels and Journals and gave him free treatment.”
From an eyewitness of our work:
“It gives me great pleasure, in which my wife joins me, to send our little mite to the fund that is doing such wonderful work. We had the privilege of visiting several training camps in the south and southwest and it filled our hearts with joy to see the Camp Welfare hut and automobiles carrying the Truth to all. We have seen several soldiers lying on the ground reading the little vest-pocket edition of Science and Health by our Leader.”
Upon receiving word from France:
“Please accept my most heartfelt thanks for your efficient and comforting work with regard to my brother. I was told by a member of the Home Service of the Red Cross that the reply was in her experience almost unprecedented in its quickness. You will find enclosed a check for ten dollars, five of which is to pay for the cable and the other as a thank offering.”
True reciprocity from a soldier in the American Expeditionary Forces:
“I am sending subscription price for all Christian Science periodicals, the Christian Science Quarterly, and Science and Health printed in alternate French and English. I am being greatly helped every day by the articles in the Monitor and Journal and wish as many others as possible to have the same privilege.”
In appreciation of good news by cable:
“Your kind and welcome letter received a few days ago. Also your cable, and appreciated it so much—in fact, I hardly know how to thank you for your kindness. Here is a small sum for the Christian Science War Relief Fund. Would be glad if I could send fifty times this amount.”
A birthday gift to the fund:
“Enclosed please find one dollar for your work. I am eighty-four today and this dollar was given me for a birthday present. I wish I were sending eighty-four dollars.”
A corporal in France appreciates the War Relief Room:
“Enclosed in this letter is a check for $25 to be drawn against my New York bank. It is difficult to find words of appreciation for the wonderful kindness, aid, comfort and joy experienced in these rooms. They are the first hours of real satisfaction passed in France.”
“An offering pure of Love” (Poems, page 13):
“Enclosed find money order for two dollars lovingly given for War Relief and Camp Welfare work. I wish it could be more, but more will follow. I am a widow, earning my own living and have made the supreme sacrifice of giving my baby boy to his country. He passed over in the battle of Soissons, July 19, 1918. Surely, ‘greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ I am so thankful for the blessed understanding I have of Christian Science and love and reverence Our Leader more every day because she gave this ‘Key to the Scriptures’ to needy humanity.”