IN the book of Deuteronomy the people were often warned against forgetting God; and in the eighth chapter we find this command: "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee." This is done many times by Christian Scientists when they testify, either orally or through our periodicals, to their awakening out of the dream of sorrow and suffering; and these experiences are not only of priceless value to those who have been led into the understanding of Christian Science, but they contain valuable lessons for others as well. In the same way, all who love our Cause are glad to know of the way by which our Leader was divinely guided in establishing on a sure foundation The Mother Church and the branches of this great vine, wherever they may be found.
Here it may be interesting to many to be told that in the earlier days of the movement, while there was much wonderful healing done wherever there were students of our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, or some of their students at work, it seemed for a time as if their work was not marked by a permanent character. While people were wonderfully healed, yet most of these continued to attend their former churches, largely because of family ties, and also because it required a good deal of cross-bearing to leave a recognized and established church for the lowly gathering in a small hall, or occasionally in a private home, where a few students of Christian Science met on Sunday, thankful that they had found in Christian Science the ever present Christ.
While Mrs. Eddy herself had the vision of a great spiritual seer, she found it difficult to establish the church which was so much needed everywhere, except as she herself was able to conduct the services. From her own writings we can best learn of her brave efforts, and also of some disappointments along this line in the earlier years; but the present writer will be glad to tell of some incidents which are yet recalled by a goodly number, and which began in 1886. Mrs. Eddy had for some time seen the necessity for organized effort which would unite Christian Scientists everywhere in their endeavors to supply a great need,—namely, intelligent and unified efforts on the part of all workers, as even at that early date there were those who were ready to substitute their own personal views for the inspired guidance of our great Leader, through whom this revelation had been given to the world.
