Christian Science War Time Activities/Introduction
INTRODUCTION
The fine spirit of cooperation shown by Christian Scientists everywhere in the carrying on of the various war time activities of our denomination, and their unbounded interest in and enthusiasm for the work in all its phases, has produced far-reaching results. These being yet, in point of time, so close to the events themselves, however, it is difficult for one to form a just and impartial estimate of their importance. It has not been possible heretofore to present in a complete and orderly sequence the steps which, during the nearly five years that have marked the world's great unrest, were taken by the Christian Science Church to aid, both in spiritual and material ways, those whose lives were affected in varying degrees by the fortunes of war. The time has now come, however, when it is not alone possible but most desirable to submit to the Christian Science field a full report of the war work undertaken by the movement.
In preparing this report the aim has been to produce an accurate historical record of achievements, which will at all times be well balanced and which will not, for obvious reasons, unduly enlarge upon any single phase of the work. Covering the years 1914-1919, years of unwonted activity, there has naturally been a great wealth of material from which to select, all of it valuable and important. Thus the chief task has been the elimination of a great quantity of subject-matter equal in all respects to that included. The plan therefore, has been to deal broadly with the whole subject and yet to introduce here and there, in detail, typical instances which serve to illustrate specifically the more important lines of activity followed in the United States and abroad, especially where these serve to illuminate the metaphysical purpose which lay behind all the Committee's efforts, and to give the results obtained by the application of divine law as taught in Christian Science, to all the varied and complex problems presented.
A War Relief Committee was appointed by the Christian Science Board of Directors of The Mother Church in 1914. In 1917 a Camp Welfare Committee was also appointed by the same authority. These were merged in 1918 and subsequently the words “Camp Welfare” were omitted from the title. It is this Committee which submits the following report, in which is included the story of the efforts and achievements of others as well, for the many war time activities of Christian Scientists, working singly and in groups all over the world since the autumn of 1914, have been so closely interwoven that it is impossible to tell the story properly otherwise. Noteworthy instances of these exceptions will be found in the chapters “Helping Halifax,” “A Unique Committee” and “Timely Recognition.”
The fall of 1914 witnessed the establishment of the War Relief Fund of The Mother Church. The Comforts Forwarding Committee began its work in the latter part of 1917 and early in December of the same year, the Halifax Relief Committee made its notable trip to Nova Scotia. The first army chaplain was appointed at almost the same time, this appointment being followed at short intervals by others, until ten were serving in the army and navy. The War Relief Committee for Great Britain and Ireland originally appointed in 1914 was enlarged in scope in 1918 by the Christian Science Board of Directors, who at that time selected three persons to carry on the larger work planned. Though in no sense under the direction of the American Committee, the work in the United Kingdom was modeled largely after that in the United States and was an extension of the work established in 1915 and the years following at Chatham, Dover, Aldershot, Bedford and Colchester by the united churches of the London district, in Ripon by the churches of Yorkshire, and in Edinburgh and Dublin and Newcastle by the local churches interested.
Even to a group of people so accustomed as are Christian Scientists to seeing the so-called impossible accomplished, the progress of the work of this Committee during the late months of 1917 and the earlier ones of 1918 was astonishing. The rapid and successful building of the organization which cared so satisfactorily for the work in the American and British training camps, and served so remarkably well both the American and the British Expeditionary Forces in France and elsewhere, was the result of genuine and sustained teamwork, a unified effort which was unselfish and generous beyond praise. This support, always extended in a whole-hearted and unquestioning manner by those at home, was undoubtedly the chief explanation of the splendid results obtained. With such backing, success was inevitable.
As individual Christian Scientists, living in far corners of the world, unorganized groups scattered here and there, societies and churches, large and small, had responded to the opportunity to aid the war sufferers, when it was first presented to them in 1914, so they eagerly answered the call made in November, 1917, to extend this work. Thus within a period of sixty days, the entire Christian Science movement in the United States was completely organized and in a large measure at work, along lines which we shall fully cover. This report would be incomplete without a full recognition of the invaluable assistance rendered by State Committees and their corresponding subcommittees located in every town and city where a Christian Science Church or Society existed. On these committees more than two thousand persons served voluntarily and without compensation. The service rendered was highly important and nearly always entailed large contributions of time and effort. In fact it was the framework of the structure which, when put to the test, as it was on many occasions, proved staunch and strong at all points, and able to respond quickly and effectively to all calls made upon it.
There were employed by these Committees on November 11, 1918, more than two hundred persons serving, some as Camp Workers, others as Welfare Room attendants, and a few in other important capacities. These persons devoted their full time to the work, often lived in the camps and were subject to transfer without notice. The policy of the Board of Directors, in the matter of compensation paid the salaried workers, was generous and in every case enabled them to carry on their work free from financial anxiety. The body of the report will bear rich and varied testimony as to the high character and value of the work performed by these men and women. In camp and hospital, at home and in foreign lands, working under strange and oftentimes most difficult conditions, they proved worthy of the high responsibility reposed in them.
At the time of the greatest activity, there were in operation in the United States, Canada, England and France, something over one hundred Welfare rooms, tents and buildings. Some of these are pictured in the pages of this report. These photographs indicate the care and thought given to this important branch of the work. In our own buildings and equipment, including some additional tents and rooms elsewhere, the Committee had invested upward of $150,000. Equipment has been disposed of advantageously, in many instances at better than sixty per cent of its cost. Of the buildings erected in or near camps, it is hoped that at least two will become the permanent church homes of groups of Christian Scientists in those localities. The gift of another has been asked by a local hospital for a free clinic. Two have reverted to the owners of the land on which they were located according to provisions in the original leases. Several others are still to be disposed of. Of all the Committee's assets at the time of its demobilization, the buildings were perhaps in the main the most difficult to realize upon. Considerably better than fifty per cent was secured from the sale of automobiles which at one time represented an investment of in excess of $40,000. Of the two boats owned by the Committee, both have been sold at advantageous prices. In these as in other matters, great credit must be given to the State Committees, who not only invested the funds in the first instance but who faithfully conserved and disposed of the assets when the work was concluded. The most important thing done by the Committee was, of course, the distribution of the Christian Science text-book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy. In the neighborhood of forty thousand copies were distributed without cost to the recipient. At the same time large quantities of Bibles were also given out and during the year 1918 more than six million copies of the Monitor were distributed. These figures alone speak volumes for the activity and tireless energy of the workers to whom fell the bulk of the distribution work involved.
Great praise is due the splendid workers in the United Kingdom for the way in which they started the work in the earlier years of the war and expanded it from year to year despite formidable obstacles. American readers will especially appreciate the story of the work there as presented in this report by the Committee for Great Britain and Ireland. The Trustees under Mrs. Eddy's Will aided the English work substantially in its earlier days through the purchase of literature for distribution.
The story of the work in France is quite out of the ordinary and for that and other reasons will strongly appeal to all Christian Scientists. While the workers selected for the service had many extremely interesting and unusual experiences, it should be remembered that they had not a few unusual burdens to bear, since conditions in France in 1918 were in many respects difficult and trying.
The administration of the fund in foreign lands deserves the warmest commendation. Concerning this work as carried on in England, France and Italy, the report will be quite complete. Less, however, can be related of that done in Holland, Denmark and Switzerland, for the reason that personal contact with these countries during the latter years of the war was most difficult and information is only now slowly filtering in. In these places, however, devoted Scientists have been administering the funds of the Committee wisely and helpfully and doing great good.
The information contained in the section of the report devoted to Finance is most gratifying and indicates that many willing hands make any task a light and joyous one, and the stories of personal experiences in the concluding section will make us all glad.
These various and widely separated activities are brought together in this report and, as far as possible, correlated and arranged so that each section fits into the story chronologically.