Milford chronicle., 1938-06-10

A warning to nations whose gov
ernments have been conceived large
ly in selfish ambition and brought
forth by human force" was issued at
Bosom, Mass, on Monday, at the an
nual meeting of The First Church of
Christ, Scientist, The Mother Church,
by The Christian Science Board of
Directors who declared the lessons
of history show such governing bO-
dies to be "Of few days and full of
trouble"
Reports disclosed continued
growth of the Christian Science
movement, increasingly higher stan
dards for authorized periodicals, and
a larger number of requests from
groups of nOn-Scientists for repre-
sentative Christian Scientists to ad-
dress them.
Election of Ralph Hastings Knapp,
C. s., of Needham, Mass, as presi-
dent of The Mother Church was an
nounced He succeeds Judge Clifford
P. Smith of Newton. Mass. Edward
l.. Ripley, of Brookline and EZa w
Palmer of Marshfield, Mass, were
reelected 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 II called upon by Mrs. Eddy to
reorganize the Christian Science
Church in September, 1892. When a
young boy, Mr.. Knapp and his mo-
ther were healed in Christian Sci
ence and through this healing the
entire family became interested. He
has served First Church of Christ,
Scientist, Needham, Mass, as read
er, director and president. He is on
the teaching faculty of mechanic
arts CtechnicaD high school in Bos-
ton.
Directors Report
Mr.. Palmer, reading the state
ment 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, how
ever, is the marked success with
which the healing, ministry of Chris
tan Science is being praeticed
throughout the world. II also indi-
Gates that the day is approaching
when responsible heads of govern
ments 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 permit
ted freely to operate in the govern
ment of their lives"
The directors further called the
attention of Christian Scientists to
the responsibility they have in re-
spect 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 I
error or become unduly alarmed by
the present-day suggestions of war
and disaster aggressively presented
through many channels" 1t was de-
clared. I'VE must be keenly alert not
to allow a false sense of security to
lull us to sleep and make us indiffer-
ent to situations of national and in
character which. unless
are destined to affect our
interests as directly as IL the scene
of their action were within the
bounds of our own community"
Mr.. Palmer. delivering his own re-
port as clerk, cited prayer as the
means of stilling the tu-
multi 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
"The way of accom- !