Charlevoix county herald., 1918-04-26
SYSTEMATIC Relief WoRH
Christian Scientists Have Done Much
to Provide War Sufferers With
Supplies Most Needed.

Among the war relief organizations
furnishing creature comforts to en-
listed men and war sufferers are the
Comforts Forwarding Committees OF
the Christian Scientists. The original
committee was formed in Boston and
conducted by Christian Scientists
throughout the United States and the
number is constantly increasing
There are several in Michigan.
About 29,500 articles were prepared
and sent to enlisted men and war re
fugees by the Comforts Forwarding
Committee, conducted by the Christian
Scientists of the Boston district and
located at 1928 Boylston Street, Boston
during the first three months of the
committees work. Among the goods
forwarded were 10000 knitted articles
and comfort kits, $500 articles Of new
clothing for French, Italian, Belgian
and Serbian refugee children, and
about 5000 selected secondhand or re-
made articles of clothing.
One American ship has been sup
piled with enough knitted goods, total
ing $500 pieces, to equip all the sailors
on board. A large number of the
knitted garments and other comforts
have been turned over to the different
war relief associations in Boston
which are in direct communication
with the people of their respective
countries, notably the British, French,
Italian, and Belgian associations
Some of the recruits from Boston for
the British and Canadian forces were
supplied with knitted articles before
they left home.
A feature of the Comforts Forward. !
ing Committees work which has
brought splendid results is the unit
system" of preparing new garments
for refugee children. Ten Of the com.
mittes were first instructed in the
making of a model garment, each OF
the ten instructed ten others and the
latter became captains Of teams Of ten
others whom they in turn instructed.
Two groups OF team captains meet at
the committees rooms every day to
receive instructions and material for
use by themselves and the members of
their respective teams, who work at
leisure moments at home. Thus LILO
sewers are banded together for this
particular part Of the committees pro.
gram and they are turning out an
average Of over ] 900 garments a week
In this work, they have been greatly
cd hU NJ hA ntwt< Ia
manufacturing companies of Boston.
which offered and has undertaken to
do all the cutting required for these
garments.
Before beginning to sew for the re-
fugees of any country, the committee
ascertained not only what articles
were needed but also the form and
material desired, SO far rs was pos
sibls. II was learned, for instance,
that 30 common an article Of general
use ~ q pillow-case was, In one coun-
try, for which the teams were sewing,
very unlike the pillow-case Of the
American home. For knitters, wool
10 sold over the counter, instructions
are given, and the finished garment is
returned to the committees headquart.
srs when ready. In addition, thsre are
four knitting machines In operation,
on each of which Il 10 possible to knit
a pair of socks In 20 minutes.
Much praise has been given to the
Comforts Forwarding Committee of
the Christian Scientists by persons
associated with other war relief or.
sanisations, for the high quality OF the
articles produced and the systematic
manner Of their productions.