THE Church of Christ, Scientist, is built, not on the personal Peters who may be included among its members, but on divine Truth, individually perceived. It is the recognition of the spiritual idea that enables one to declare, as Peter did, "Thou art the Christ." Truth has always existed; yet, so far as the world's salvation is concerned, it is evident that the perception of the true idea by the individual is that which enables the operation of Truth to appear as a redemptive power. We know that the limited sense of spiritual perception in the Christian Church after the time of our Lord, and before the discovery of Christian Science, accounts for the lack of spiritual healing. Christian Scientists are the human witnesses by whom Truth is to-day being declared on earth in a scientific way; for every one who has perceived some gleam of scientific truth is to an equal extent a scientific Christian. In a certain sense, we may say, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels." From this it follows that Christian Scientists cannot idly rest upon the fact that absolute Truth exists. So long as there seem to be earthen vessels there will be work to do, if only to keep these vessels clean.
Reading the section on Theology, beginning on page 131 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, we cannot fail to be struck by the way in which the conditions attending the founding of Christianity by Jesus were followed in the founding of the Church of Christ, Scientist, by Mrs. Eddy. The spiritual understanding of Truth was the rock on which the early Church was built. This understanding came to those fitted to receive it. Its appearing was a confirmation of prophecy; its call was to the followers of Truth to prove their faith by their works; its operation demonstrated the naturalness of what had hitherto been regarded as miraculous. Nevertheless, it was thrust out of the synagogues, and rejected by the religionists of the day. Such treatment, however, could not prevent its progress. Because it was founded on Truth, and was therefore practical and demonstrable, it spread throughout the world, and prospered where it was practiced.
The present organization of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, The Mother Church, with its many branches springing up all over the world, was an idea gradually unfolded under God's guidance to meet the universal need. The Mother Church, as Mrs. Eddy conceived it, is not a local church under a state charter, and with personal pastors for its preachers. It is the type of the church universal, spiritually governed by rules divinely revealed to promote the order and harmony of the movement, and to demonstrate justice, wisdom, and brotherly love. Its ideal is practice, not profession. Its sermons are the impersonal preaching of the Word of God, "uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses" (Quarterly, Explanatory Note). Its membership is made up of Christian Scientists from all over the world, and consists of those who have proved for themselves, in their own regenerated lives, the power of Truth over error, and thus are ready to give spiritual service to those seeking Truth.
It was fitting that this spiritual ideal should have its outward and visible form. We cannot build a monument of God as Love, but we can express appreciation for the effects of divine Love in healing the sick and raising the dead; and this is what Mrs. Eddy caused to be done in the building of The Mother Church edifice. Parables and symbols, whether expressed in pictures or in words, are intended only as ladders to heaven, up which the thought of each individual may ascend to reach the spiritual meaning of the idea portrayed. Thus, the windows in the original edifice of The Mother Church and the texts upon the walls of both this building and the Extension are designed to bring out the spiritual sense of what they typify, and only fulfill their mission as they lift thought beyond the symbol to the actual spiritual understanding upon which this Church is founded, defined so clearly by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health (p. 583): "Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."
Is it any wonder that against the erection of this symbol of universal Love,—which is able to meet the needs of every living thing, and which eventually will destroy every claim of evil,—error should have claimed to put forth its effort to frustrate and protract? The building of this temple will go down throughout all time as one of the greatest victories for Truth, it being the type of that universal struggle between good and evil which claims to go on, not only in the universal consciousness, but in the consciousness of every individual, in proportion as Christian Science reveals to him the spiritual idea at enmity with the world, though forever at peace in divine Mind.
Every outward seeming but hints a spiritual fact; and this church building stands in its widest sense for the universal spiritual idea. It was on this spiritual reality, independent of past, present, and future states, that Mrs. Eddy organized her Church. The offices, the functions, the requirements, are as Mrs. Eddy saw them to be, spiritual parts of a spiritual whole, moving in the rhythm of scientific harmony. So to-day, and for all days to come, The Mother Church remains secure upon the firm foundation on which it was established.
Mrs. Eddy had a genius for organization. In her case genius was the result of spiritual vision. Where others saw the outward form, she saw the impersonal reality. She saw divine Principle and idea where material sense saw personal relationship. She knew that to meet every human circumstance there is a right action, because right action is the outcome of the understanding of divine Principle; and right action demonstrated means harmony for all. Because others were not able to grasp this view, Mrs. Eddy had to translate and embody it for them in the Manual of The Mother Church. If Christian Scientists could at all times perceive the spiritual requirement, Principle's demand, there would be no need for church By-laws; but here, as in all scientific advancement, we gladly obey the letter of the law until its spiritual sense is gained. The law understood and obeyed is not then dispensed with, but fulfilled,—done away with, only in the sense that "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." The branch churches, although united by definite links to The Mother Church, in order to promote their growth must be built, not only on rules laid down in the Manual for all branch churches, but also on what their members individually and collectively perceive of Principle.
To be a member of The Mother Church, it is obviously not necessary to have seen the church building which is in Boston, though every member will value that opportunity should it come to him. Man is united to God. We realize this unity with divine Life, God, through spiritual understanding and spiritual living; and we understand God's spiritual ideas through spiritualization of thought. It is not possible to use spiritual ideas in any other way than through spiritual understanding. The Mother Church is not local, any more than this spiritualization of thought is local. Only to the extent to which his understanding makes it possible, can any Christian Scientist become a member of this church with its "innumerable company of angels," and its "spirits [spiritual senses] of just men made perfect." Through his clear spiritual sense, John saw the heavenly city, and there was "no temple therein" or, as Mrs. Eddy explains, "no material structure in which to worship God" (Science and Health, p. 576). Perhaps for the hundreds and thousands of its members who have never seen the material structure of The Mother Church, this may be a helpful thought. If to behold the material structure would appear to be for us a step towards the realization of the spiritual nature of that which it symbolizes, then let us know that divine Love can lead us there; but if our path of scientific demonstration does not lead us, at any rate for the present, to that church building which is in Boston, then let us remember that we can all belong to the church universal as we demonstrate man's unity with God and understand His Christ.
I watched the dawn's white, mists ascend—
And night was not;
I lifted up my heart to Love—
And hate forgot.
