Christian Science War Time Activities/Chapter 01
I
BEGINNINGS
When the fires of conflict were first kindled in August, 1914, it took some months for the enlightened nations of the earth to awaken to the fact that a gigantic struggle for human liberty had been forced upon them. Christian Scientists, however, though at first but faintly, perceived the true nature of the problem which the world was vainly trying to solve through a dependence upon human means and methods. They became more and more convinced that it was impossible to maintain an attitude of neutrality towards the world war for the reason that only those nations which had some understanding of Principle, as revealed in Christian Science, were adequately armed and equipped to carry a righteous cause to a victorious conclusion. Until the American nation as a whole attained to some realization of this fact, Christian Scientists in that country were obliged to work more or less as individuals, but the constant desire to help in the solution of the world problem crystallized itself in the establishment of the War Relief Fund by the Board of Directors of The Mother Church, and accordingly the following announcement appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel of October 24, 1914:
A RELIEF FUND
“The many Christian Scientists who have desired to contribute to the relief of those of our people who are enduring the hardships which war entails, will welcome the opportunity afforded by the following letter, a copy of which has been mailed to all branch churches and societies in the United States:
“ ‘To the Christian Science Churches and Societies in the United States.
“ ‘Dear Friends:
“ ‘This Board has been informed that, as a consequence of the war in Europe, Christian Scientists in the countries affected are in great distress. As a means of relieving this distress, The Mother Church will take a collection at both of its services on Sunday, October 25. If your organization should desire to take similar action this Board will be glad to forward to reliable committees of Christian Scientists whatever amounts you may send for this purpose.
“ ‘Remittances may be sent to Adam H. Dickey, Treasurer, 103 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
“ ‘Very sincerely,
“ ‘By John V. Dittemore, Secretary.’ ”
In the fall of that year a member of the Board of Lectureship was called to undertake a trip to Europe in order to organize relief committees in the different countries. This delegate was provided with the proper credentials from The Mother Church describing the object of his mission, and went to Washington to secure a passport. There he had interviews with the Secretary of State and some of the ambassadors accredited to the United States from the warring nations, receiving their hearty commendation of the plan.
The delegate sailed from New York on November 16, 1914, and on his arrival in London requested the Committee on Publication for Great Britain and Ireland, to call a relief committee representing the whole of the British Isles.
The members of this committee were asked to administer the fund which was originally intended to assist Christian Scientists who had been placed in financial difficulty by the outbreak of the war. There were families where fathers had been called to the colors, leaving wives and children totally unprepared to earn a living. There were men whose business affairs had been wiped out of existence by the declaration of war. There were students, teachers, artists, who found their livelihood taken away, as it were, overnight, because people felt forced to do without the so-called luxuries of life. Many persons found their income stopped or greatly curtailed because they held securities in some of the countries involved in the struggle. In short, there were many cases where Christian Scientists were faced with the problem of demonstrating that supply is invariable and unlimited. To lift the sense of fear for such as these and so enable them to perceive the ever-presence of God's care, was the aim of the War Relief Fund. In proportion as it was seen that the love which prompted the gifts of Christian Scientists to the fund was the real substance of the help extended, fear was cast out, and individuals were able to dispense with further aid from the fund. Not only so but they were put in a position to help others, thus proving again the spiritual fact that “whatever blesses one blesses all” (Science and Health, page 206). A most interesting illustration of this point which occurred in France through the work of a sculptress will be related in more detail in the chapter devoted to that country.
The plans devised for the distribution of the fund in Great Britain served as a model for the committees of other countries visited by the delegate from the Christian Science Board of Directors. A call was made in London upon the representatives of the United States Government and when the purpose of our fund was told them their verdict was expressed in the words, “That is splendid.” In Paris plans were perfected for a committee of four to handle the war relief work for France. A joint meeting of the two churches in Paris was addressed by the delegate, to familiarize the membership with the working plan of the relief fund. In Paris, too, the delegate found the American embassy most cordial, and was told that The Christian Science Monitor was always to be found there.
Similar committees were organized in Geneva for French-speaking Switzerland and at Zurich for German-speaking Switzerland. Then in accordance with instructions from the Christian Science Board of Directors, the delegate made arrangements to extend the benefits of the relief fund to Christian Scientists in Germany also. Here the difficulties encountered at first seemed somewhat discouraging, but with the help of the Committee on Publication in Zurich a necessary letter was secured from the German ambassador at Berne and the journey undertaken. A stop was made at Stuttgart where a member of the Christian Science Society was visited and a message left for the Society explaining the purpose of the relief fund. In Berlin a committee representing the Christian Science Churches and Societies of Germany met to handle the portion of the relief fund which was assigned to them.
West Entrance to Welfare Building, Camp Merritt, New Jersey
Christian Science War Relief Building, Camp Merritt, New Jersey
The Bubbler Fountain, Camp Merritt, New Jersey
After the entrance of Italy into the world struggle a committee was organized in that country through the initiative of Christian Scientists in Florence, the administration of the fund being like that of the other committees in Europe. A committee was also organized in Holland. Many touching incidents marked the delegate's trip. By means of a special fund he was able to bring much-needed assistance to individuals who were in immediate need. Frequently the fear of those in want was so quickly overcome that they wrote stating that there was no further need for help. The tragedies of the war were mitigated for many, unavoidable separations were bridged over and the healing work stimulated.
December 5, 1914, the fund was opened to non-Scientists in the following announcement which was made to the field.
MORE RELIEF NEEDED
“In the Sentinel of October 24, a call was issued for contributions to a fund for the relief of Christian Scientists who were in distress as a consequence of the present war. In response to this call the generous sum of $80,413.90 has been received, and this fund will be distributed to Christian Scientists by committees now being organized by William D. McCrackan, who is in Europe for that purpose. It is believed that the amount of money now in hand will be sufficient for the needs of Christian Scientists, and for the present at least this fund will be closed.
“There is, however, great need of funds for the relief of hundreds of thousands of others besides our own people who are in poverty and distress by reason of the war, and a collection for their benefit will be taken in The Mother Church at both services on Sunday, December 6. Any branch church or society which takes similar action may remit to Adam H. Dickey, Treasurer, 103 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, and such amounts as are received will be forwarded to the same committees of Christian Scientists for distribution.”
In the Sentinel of April 3, 1915, the following report on the War Relief Fund made it a permanent war fund of The Mother Church:
RELIEF FUND FOR WAR SUFFERERS
“In response to the call for contributions for the relief of Christian Scientists in distress by reason of the present war in Europe, the sum of $82,104.02 has been received by the Treasurer of The Mother Church. Of this amount, $77,595.51 has been disbursed to the relief committees organized by Mr. McCrackan in England, Germany, France, and Switzerland, as called for by them. Much gratitude has been expressed by the Christian Scientists in these countries for the help extended to them by their brethren in America.
“In addition to the $82,104.02 collected for the relief of Christian Scientists, there has also been collected the sum of $29,154.90 for the relief of war sufferers other than Christian Scientists. This entire amount has been disbursed to relief committees of Christian Scientists in Holland, England, France, and Switzerland. The total amount received to date for these two funds is $111,258.92, of which but $4508.51 remains unexpended. As the need for help still continues, this small balance will not last long; therefore Christian Scientists are given the opportunity to continue to send contributions to the Treasurer of The Mother Church for this relief work. For the future it is proposed to maintain but one fund, and from this both Christian Scientists and others will be assisted.”
From that date a continuous and steady flow of voluntary offerings poured into the office of the Treasurer of The Mother Church with the desire of bringing some measure of relief to the countries of the world where war was working its devastations. With the declaration of war by the United States the needs were brought much closer home and the establishment of the Christian Science Camp Welfare Committee called for ample funds to maintain and support its activities.
In November, 1917, the Manager of this committee started on a tour of the United States for the purpose of organizing State Committees who should have jurisdiction over the work within their borders and who should aid in raising funds for the maintenance of the activity.
In January, 1918, a Camp Welfare account was opened by the Treasurer of The Mother Church.
Christian Scientists in some of the states had already subscribed thousands of dollars for work among the enlisted men in their own neighborhoods. It soon became evident, however, that such a distribution of the financial burden was neither feasible nor just. Such a state as South Carolina, for instance, had three national army cantonments within its borders while a state like Minnesota had none. Moreover, there was a much larger percentage of Christian Scientists in some states than in others, so that it was decided very early in the development of the Camp Welfare activities to have a fund administered by The Mother Church to which each state would send its contributions for the support of the committee. Each State Committee had a Financial Secretary in charge of this work and through the fund each state was supplied with a Revolving Account sufficient to meet the demands made upon it for work in the camps within its borders.
It was early made plain that the Camp Welfare Committee must have the assurance of a regular income to the fund and to meet this need the State Committees adopted various means and methods. In some cases branch churches pledged themselves to give so much a month, or a total lump sum to be paid within a certain date. Again, individuals subscribed a stipulated sum monthly to the fund. It was pointed out by many of the State Committees that if individuals pledged themselves to pay regularly even so small a sum as one dollar per month the Camp Welfare Committee would have a bountiful income, sufficient to meet every need. Many persons adopted this method of giving and many others sent in contributions from time to time. At the services conducted by the men in khaki and blue, collections were often taken voluntarily and were added to the general fund.
As the magnitude of the work in the camps began to dawn upon the thought of those in charge, it was seen that it would tremendously simplify the administration of the fund and obviate duplication of work for the Treasurer of The Mother Church to consolidate the Camp Welfare and War Relief Funds. Accordingly on March 23, 1918, it was announced in the Christian Science Sentinel that thereafter all disbursements would be made from the consolidated fund.
The First Camp Welfare Building, Camp Merritt, New Jersey.