[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H10213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further 
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1494) recognizing the 100th 
anniversary of The Christian Science Monitor newspaper, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1494

       Whereas on November 25, 1908, the 1st edition of The 
     Christian Science Monitor was printed in Boston's Back Bay;
       Whereas just over 100 days before The Monitor's 1st 
     edition, its founder, Mary Baker Eddy, then 87 years old, 
     told officers of her church to ``start a daily newspaper at 
     once'';
       Whereas Mrs. Eddy wanted The Monitor to blaze a path of 
     unselfish service through journalism;
       Whereas Mrs. Eddy, who had been the subject of inaccurate 
     stories in the press, set as The Monitor's mission ``to 
     injure no man, but to bless all mankind'';
       Whereas The Monitor followed the first editor's request 
     that the paper ``cover the daily activities of the entire 
     world'' and ``appeal to good men and women everywhere who are 
     interested in the betterment of all human conditions'';
       Whereas The Monitor's focus was never local or 
     denominational;
       Whereas The Monitor is distributed to readers in all 50 
     States in print and online and has received worldwide respect 
     for its international news coverage;
       Whereas Mrs. Eddy became the first American woman to launch 
     a lasting, general interest newspaper;
       Whereas The Monitor has been honored with numerous major 
     awards including seven Pulitzer Prizes for excellence in 
     journalism; and
       Whereas since 1966 The Monitor has sponsored 3,600 
     Washington newsmaker breakfasts, whose guests have included 
     countless cabinet officers and congressional leaders, four 
     presidents, and five vice presidents: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
     100th anniversary of The Christian Science Monitor.

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the 100th 
anniversary of The Christian Science Monitor newspaper on November 25, 
2008.
  Thanks go to Congressman Mike Capuano (MA), who agreed to be an 
original cosponsor of this bipartisan resolution and whose district 
includes the Boston headquarters of The Christian Science Monitor. Rep. 
Capuano's public service is appreciated by all those who know him.
  I also want to thank Ranking Member Tom Davis (VA) of the Government 
Reform Committee, who was an active supporter of this resolution. His 
energy and knowledge will be missed, since he is retiring at the end of 
this session.
  Congressman Henry Waxman (CA), Chairman of the Oversight and 
Government Reform Committee, offered his essential endorsement of this 
resolution. Without his assistance, this resolution wouldn't be on the 
floor today.
  I happen to have a personal interest in commemorating the 100th 
anniversary of The Christian Science Monitor because I worked at the 
paper in Boston for two years shortly after graduating from college.
  Starting out as a copyboy, I then became a clerk and eventually a 
staff writer for the Business and Financial page.
  So I was able to witness the high standards of journalistic integrity 
maintained at The Christian Science Monitor, which has rightfully 
gained a reputation for fair and objective news reporting. The Monitor 
has earned that reputation because of its dedicated and committed 
editors, reporters and staff.
  This resolution highlights some of the ways in which The Monitor 
serves as an exceptional newspaper.
  Established by Mary Baker Eddy 100 years ago, The Monitor remains the 
oldest surviving paper in the U.S. founded by a woman.
  Its mission was and continues to be ``to injure no man, but to bless 
all mankind.''
  And the Monitor has won worldwide respect for its international news 
coverage and been awarded seven Pulitzer Prizes for excellence in 
journalism.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the 100th 
anniversary of The Christian Science Monitor.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this 
resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Christian Science 
Monitor.
  One of the great American contributions to culture has been the 
creation and growth of an independent and professional journalistic 
tradition.
  And within that tradition the Christian Science Monitor has stood as 
a distinctive marker for excellence and service for one hundred years.
  In 1908 Mary Baker Eddy, who herself had been subjected to inaccurate 
press stories, instructed the officers of the Church of Christ, 
Scientist to start a newspaper.
  She could have made it clear that the paper was to provide the 
church's perspective on the news of the day, but instead she directed 
that the Monitor's mission would be ``to injure no man, but to bless 
mankind.''
  This one instruction to serve the entire nation by unselfishly 
delivering the news, without vitriol or agenda, was a stroke of genius. 
Within a few years the Christian Science Monitor became a trusted 
arbiter of facts and events around the country.
  Not being content with merely publishing a newspaper, the Christian 
Science Monitor has sponsored 3,600 Washington newsmaker breakfasts--
becoming an institution in this city--where countless leaders have made 
their cases and faced honest questions. In sponsoring these breakfasts 
the Monitor has provided the government and this city an invaluable 
service.
  Throughout its history the Christian Science Monitor has worked hard 
to make sure that it appeals ``to good men and women everywhere who are 
interested in the betterment of all human conditions.''
  For 100 years the Monitor has achieved this goal and there is little 
doubt that we need an institution like the Christian Science Monitor in 
this modern time more than ever before.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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