Christian Science Board of Directors in early 1920s
As we reflect on the significance of the establishing of the Christian Science Benevolent Association in 1916 by The Mother Church, we have also been expressing much gratitude for the loving care that has been given over the last century to maintaining the Benevolent Association with its healing purpose.
In 1916 when the Christian Science Board of Directors “heartily invited” the Field to contribute to a building and maintenance fund for The Christian Science Benevolent Association, there was an outpouring of support from all over the world. Individuals, families, Sunday School students, and branch churches and societies as far away as Russia and Egypt, and from all across the US responded with great gratitude and generosity. Many sent notes with their donations that were published in the Christian Science Sentinel—a few are included below.
“The enclosed draft for $250, on behalf of the Christian Science Benevolent Association fund, is remitted as a token of deep gratitude for many benefits received by those interested in Christian Science in Egypt and the Sudan. Although the sum collected is not large, it represents contributions from towns and villages, from fertile valleys and desert places, from outlying oases and the distant Sudan. It is comprised of many donations, ranging from 2s 6d upward, and has been sub-scribed to by officers and soldiers, as well as by residents. It is a great privilege that we have been permitted to join with others in contributing to the fund, and in this way assist in furthering the cause we all have so deeply at heart.”
Christian Science Sentinel, July 21, 1917
“…it represents contributions from towns and villages, from fertile valleys and desert places, from outlying oases and the distant Sudan.”
“[Enclosed] please find check for two dollars and a half lovingly earned by a Sunday school class of little girls that they might early have a part in giving to The Christian Science Benevolent Association fund. It was accumulated through little personal sacrifices and even by shoveling snow and performing other unusual duties in which each delighted—it being for the cause of the truth.”
Christian Science Sentinel, April 5, 1919
“Will you kindly credit amount of [enclosed] check (four dollars) to The Christian Science Benevolent Association fund. I am working on a ranch and seldom have money, but Christmas brings me small remembrances from my children and grandchildren. Christian Science has been the strength of my working hours and the comfort of daily life since 1886.”
Christian Science Sentinel, February 23, 1918
“Christian Science has been the strength of my working hours and the comfort of daily life since 1886.”
“[Enclosed] find check of seven dollars for The Christian Science Benevolent Association fund. This is sent in loving gratitude for good received in Christian Science. All I am and all I have I owe to Christian Science.”
Christian Science Sentinel, June 5, 1920
“Enclosed please find check for $125 from
the Christian Science Society in Lima, Peru, and please use it for the Christian Science Benevolent Association. It is not a big sum, but it represents any amount of good wishes and godspeed to the new department for the good of our cause. It is very gratifying to read how magnificently the churches are responding to the call.”
Christian Science Sentinel, July 21, 1917
“On behalf of the Christian Science Society, Pretoria, S. Africa, I have much pleasure in forwarding the enclosed draft for £25. 15. 3., £25. 5. 3. of which is to be devoted to the Christian Science Benevolent Association fund. The sender of the additional 10 shillings wishes the amount to go to the Real Estate fund. We esteem it a great privilege to be able to contribute to this grand project, the achievement of which will, we know, prove an inestimable blessing to humanity.”
Christian Science Sentinel, September 8, 1917
“We esteem it a great privilege to be able to contribute to this grand project…”
“Teacher and pupils of the Christian Science Sunday school in Zurich are very grateful for the opportunity to prove their appreciation of the joy and help the teachings our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, are giving to them, in sending you the collection made for this purpose, to be used for the Christian Science Benevolent Association. It is a small mite ($20), but given with joy and the loving desire to cooperate, for we feel that though oceans, countries, and language seem to separate us, we Christian Scientists never needed so to be and never were united more closely in purpose and aim.”
Christian Science Sentinel, July 21, 1917
“It is my agreeable duty to voice the deep appreciation of many here in Petrograd, Russia, of the editorial ‘Looking Forward’ which lately appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel. It is our joy and privilege to respond to the invitation extended by the Board of Directors of The Mother Church to the whole field of Christian Scientists to cooperate in still further extending the channels of usefulness, by sending you our first donation of $308, to be equally divided between the two funds named in the article.”
Christian Science Sentinel, July 21, 1917
“It is our joy and privilege to respond to the invitation extended by the Board of Directors of The Mother Church…”
“[I enclose] two dollars toward The Christian Science Benevolent Association fund, and only wish it were two thousand dollars, as I feel so grateful for this wonderful light that has come to me and mine through this beautiful truth revealed to us by our revered Leader. I indeed feel there is nothing I would not do to try and shed this same radiance into some other lives.”
Christian Science Sentinel, February 16, 1918
“[Enclosed] is another small donation which I am sending with so much love and gratitude to The Christian Science Benevolent Association fund. From time to time I send on what I can spare at the moment, rather than wait until I could send a larger amount, thinking that it is better to keep something continually flowing into the treasury for this splendid work for suffering humanity, than for larger sums to come at intervals.”
Christian Science Sentinel, September 6, 1919
“Enclosed is another small donation which I am sending with so much love and gratitude to The Christian Science Benevolent Association fund.”
“Please accept the [enclosed] check as a contribution to the Christian Science Benevolent Associa-tion. It is but a faint expression of the gratitude I feel for Christian Science, and for the wonderful, beautiful provision for the care and protection of adherents of this faith who may for a time be in need of just that kind of help. I am so glad and thankful for this project of our dear Leader, and hope to be able to send more later to help in-crease the fund for this most worthy cause.”
Christian Science Sentinel, February 7, 1920
