The Camas Hot Springs Exchange

BOSTON, Mass.-A warning to nations "whose governments have been conceived largely in selfish ambition and brought forth by human force" was issued here at the Annual Meeting of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, which was held June 6. The Mother Church, by The Christian Science Board of Directors who declared the lessons of history show such governing bodies to be "of few days and full of trouble."

Reports disclosed continued growth of the Christian Science movement, increasingly higher standards for authorized periodicals, and a larger number of requests from groups of non-Scientists for representative Christian Scientists to address them.

Election of Ralph Hastings Knapp, C. S., of Needham, Mass., as President of The Mother Church was announced. He succeeds Judge Clifford P. Smith of Newton, Massachusetts. Edward L. Ripley of Brookline and Ezra W. Palmer of Marshfield were re-elected Treasurer and Clerk of the Church respectively. The President is elected by The Christian Science Board of Directors to serve for one year. His duty is to be presiding officer at the Annual Meeting.

Mr. Knapp is a son of Ira O. Knapp and Flavia S. Knapp, two of the 12 called upon by Mrs. Eddy to reorganize the Christian Science Church in September, 1892. When a young boy, Mr. Knapp and his mother were healed in Christian Science and through this healing the entire family became interested. He has served First Church of Christ, Scientist, Needham, Mass., as reader, director and president. He is on the teaching faculty of Mechanic Arts (Technical) High School in Boston.

Directors' Report

Mr. Palmer, reading the statement from the Directors, reported that The Mother Church has grown substantially in numbers during the past year; is united, harmonious, and without debt. Then continuing on the theme of world relations he read, in part:

"More important than all, however, is the marked success with which the healing ministry of Christian Science is being practiced throughout the world. It also indicates that the day is approaching when responsible heads of government will see that undue reliance upon material means and methods to accomplish their ends inevitably results in failure and defeat. They will then realize that no nation is stronger than the moral fiber of its people, and that a nation can become truly great and permanently endure only to the extent that spiritual qualities are cultivated in the thoughts of its citizens and permitted freely to operate in the government of their lives."

The Directors further called the attention of Christian Scientists to the responsibility they have in respect to upholding such fundamental issues of life as cultivation of good will and preservation of a system of government protecting the civil rights of its people and ensuring to them freedom of speech, of the press, and of religious worship.

"While we should not magnify error or become unduly alarmed by the present-day suggestions of war and disaster aggressively presented through many channels," it was declared, we must be keenly alert not to allow a false sense of security to lull us to sleep and make us indifferent to situations of national and international character which, unless corrected, are destined to affect our interests as directly as if the scene of their action were within the bounds of their own community.

Mr. Palmer, delivering his own report as Clerk, cited prayer as the practical means of stilling the tumult of the world. "The members of The Mother Church need to pray much," he said. "Prayer sanctifies thought and lifts one in conscious harmony with God"

Mr. Knapp as incoming President expressed the need for spiritualizing consciousness. "The way of accomplishment," he said, "is through renewed consecration; a greater purification of sense and self; more love for God and humanity."

Incidents of Healing

Judge Smith, retiring President, related several incidents of healing in which Mrs. Eddy's work as a practitioner of Christian Science was demonstrated. In one instance, he said "about 1872 when Mrs. Eddy lived in Lynn, she heard that an acquaintance named Mrs. Edgecomb was in great trouble, and went to see her. The trouble was that her little boy was extremely ill from what a physician had diagnosed as a chronic disease of the bowels. As Mrs. Edgecomb afterward related, Mrs. Eddy took the child from his crib, held him in her arms for a while, kissed him, laid him down again, and went out. His symptoms changed at once. In less than an hour, he called for his playthings, got up, and appeared quite well. And he proved to be completely cured."

Judge Smith further disclosed that one of the most notable facts concerning the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science is the assurance which she constantly had that its teachings came to her through inspiration and revelation. "In fact," he told the meeting, "she studied her writings regularly to learn from them. Speaking of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' she said, 'I have been learning the higher meaning of this book since writing it.' (Miscellany, p.114.)"

The Trustees Under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy reported assisting many branches of The Mother Church in acquiring their own church buildings They also aided in placing Mrs. Eddy's works in a number of public libraries in towns where there are no Christian Science organizations and in supplying literature in Braille.

Roland R. Harrison, Manager of The Christian Science Publishing Society, stated that the Trustees seek every opportunity to emphasize the fact that true progress in our publishing activities is spiritual unfoldment rather than material gain.

Medical Regimentation

The Hon. C. Augustus Norwood Manager of Committees on Publication, expressed the stand Christian Scientist should take on the question of medical regimentation.

"Medical regimentation," he declared "appears well entrenched, from the League of Nations down through national, state, county, and local health departments; and the public in general was never more apathetic with regard to it.

"This does not mean that the dominant school of medicine and Christian Science are lined up against each other, for many medical men are more ready than ever before to recognize the religion of Christian Science and its healing ministry.

"Our position is a strong one. We never interfere with the rights of others to enjoy whatever method of healing they may prefer; we ask simply that our right to rely on spiritual means for healing be not interfered with."

William W. Davis, Executive Supervisor of the Charitable Institutions expressed gratitude for the many demonstrations of healing at the Christian Science Sanatoriums.

"The nursing staff at each of our Sanatoriums," he informed the meeting, "includes well-trained, experienced executives. The nurses in training are supervised and taught to render valuable service both while at the Sanatoriums and later in the Field.

The report of The Christian Science Board of Lectureship, read by Richard J. Davis, Chairman, told of 3211 lectures delivered during the past year.

The lecture held at Baguio, in the Philippine Islands, was unique, he said, for in the audience there were about 60 native Igorots, one of whom introduced the lecturer. In Tasmania a lecture was broadcast for the first time