Christian Scientists convene

Several thousand members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, filled the historic Mother Church in Boston, Mass., yesterday for the denomination's annual meeting.

Reports from church officers and committees focused on what Christian Scientists term their ''pastor'' - the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, ''Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,'' by the denomination's founder Mary Baker Eddy. (As a church of laymen, with no clergy, Christian Scientists place special emphasis on the ''pastoral'' role of the Scriptural Word.)

The incoming Chairman of The Christian Science Board of Directors, H. Dickinson Rathbun, spoke of the great need for more than superficial familiarity with the Bible's ''inspired Word.'' He called on members ''to demonstrate in our lives'' the Christianity taught by the church's ''pastor.'' This will inevitably lead, he added, to the Biblical message being ''even more openly received and more gratefully lived by men and women everywhere.''

The church's Clerk, Mrs. Beulah M. Roegge, told of members' desire to strengthen the practice of Christian healing. There are nearly 3,000 Christian Science congregations in some 62 countries.

Michael A. West, church Treasurer, referred to the continuing solid financial status of the denomination and outlined recent moves to streamline the church's fiscal operations.

Additional reports were given by Nathan A. Talbot, Manager of Committees on Publication, by the Finance Committee, and the Bible Lesson Committee. (A detailed report of the meeting will be published again this year in the August issue of The Christian Science Journal.)

Church President James K. Kyser handed over the gavel to incoming President Zadie Hatfield of Hingham, Mass. Miss Hatfield, a native of England, recently resigned as Trustee of The Christian Science Publishing Society, which publishes this newspaper, to devote her full time to the public practice of Christian Science healing.