THOSE church meetings which manifest true spiritual activity and cooperative unity present no especial problems to be solved; but there are other meetings which, although not so numerous, are still found at times in every active field, and which sometimes seem disturbing to the newcomer. The new member is apt to think that all church meetings will be feasts of joyous, loving unity. He generally approaches the organization with the belief that in it he will find demonstrated perfection, spirituality and love reigning supreme. He forgets that when absolute spirituality has been reached the belief in a personal mortal or a collection of mortals will have given place to the complete realization of the truth of being.
The student knows from his own personal experience that the individual Scientist has not yet overcome all phases of evil. Is there anything strange, then, about the seeming fact that an aggregation of Scientists has not yet done so? If we would all realize that to meet and overcome all error is the very purpose of our organization, we should be saved from astonishment at the process. So-called mortal mind has made its false law that all forms of organization are subject to certain forms of error,— personal ambition, domination and control, jealousy and envy, division, opposition, disagreement. Mortal mind certainly does not exempt the Christian Science organization from fulfilling this so-called law; only the metaphysical work of its members can do that.
The work of the organization presents to the Christian Scientist the place and opportunity in which he may meet the multitudinous claims of many minds, and apply thereto the spiritual truths of being with which he is becoming acquainted through study, prayer, and metaphysical practice. Years of what is denominated the practice of Christian Science may not always bring to one the varied opportunities for overcoming self, detecting certain forms of error, and penetrating many of its disguises, that active work in the organization may bring. Unquestionably, however, the systematic practice of the healing work is the greatest possible aid to all other work for our Cause, and work for which nothing else can be substituted.
