CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR
“Through the affiliation of the members of the State Committee, which brought together each month representatives of the seven largest churches, and through the constant communication with all the churches and societies by correspondence and visits of the members of the State Committee, a fellowship and common purpose and interest now exist which will no doubt be perpetuated by means of the cooperative work throughout the state by the Literature Distribution Committees which have now been organized by all the churches.”
Another Chairman writes along the same line:
“A greater interest has been manifested in our periodicals by reason of this War Relief work, and I believe we have a better appreciation of the missionary work accomplished through a systematic and intelligent distribution of our literature by our local organization.”
The outcome of this activity, roused and stimulated by the unselfish desire to bring the blessing of Christian Science to the men in uniform, was inevitable. Services were inaugurated in many places where they had never previously existed. Informal organizations were established and in a few instances what had been informal gatherings became regularly organized churches or societies. The following cases will illustrate this point:
From Port Townsend, Washington, our Worker wrote:
“I am happy to tell you that on last evening the Christian Scientists of Port Townsend voted to continue the War Relief Rooms as Christian Science Reading Rooms, and to organize a Christian Science church. The meeting was a very helpful one, a spirit of love and unity pervading all. We feel that the real church has appeared in consciousness and that
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