Page:Christian Science War Time Activities.djvu/390

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CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR

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

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