New Headquarters For Christian Scientists

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31079, 7 June 1966, Page 18

New Headquarters For Christian Scientists

BOSTON, June 6.

Mr E. D. Canham became the new president of the Christian Science Church today, as members from around the world convened in Boston for their eentennnial year annual meeting. Simultaneously, construction workers one block away beginning land clearance for the expansion of the religion's headquarters area, known as the Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. These events were the climax in this year’s observance of the one hundredth anniver-

sary of the beginnings of Christian Science under the leadership of Mary Baker Eddy, in 1866. To the annual meeting, it brought the biggest attendance in the church's history, flowing over into the adjacent civic auditorium and a nearby theatre where the proceedings were carried on closedcircuit television. An estimated 15,000 people attended. Mr Canham, a well-known journalist and editor-in-chief of the “Christian Science Monitor,” will serve as president

for one year while continuing his newspaper duties. A message to the meeting from the Christian Science Board of Directors noted the “radical changes" taking place in humanity’s thinking about “the nature of Deity and God’s relation to men.” Several new steps to improve the church organisation and prepare it for “the challenges which He ahead,” were noted by the directors, as well as in reports to the meeting from different church departments.

Two innovations mentioned were a new international department and a new youth division for better co-ordina-tion of the church’s growing operations in these areas. Similar changes have already added four storeys to the proposed height of the new church administration building announced last year as part of the expanded 15acre church centre now under construction. The detailed plans call for a 26-storey building and other facilities at a cost of more than eight million dollars, with extensive private development on surrounding church-owned land. The church treasurer’s report to the annual meeting noted the establishment of a church centre building fund, but added that “no specific financial goal has been set, no personal solicitation is to be made.” Contributions are to be kept on a voluntary basis. Other centennial events this year included the publication a few weeks ago of a 100-year report on the Church’s spiritual healing experience, titled “A Century of Christian Science Healing:” and a recent ceremony at the Smithsonian Institution accepting a privately-given marble bust of Mary Baker Eddy into the National Portrait Gallery. A tribute from gallery officials said that “as the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy has earned such recognition’’ among those who have made “a significant contribution to the lives of their fellow citizens.”