"UNITY is the essential nature of Christian Science." Mrs. Eddy has made this statement on page 264 of her "Miscellaneous Writings." It can be said, further, that unity is the essential nature of all that enters into the Christian Science movement and of all that promotes its success.
The Christian Science church is not only an institution, but it is also institutional. The Mother Church includes a congregation in Boston, a large number of individual members everywhere, and many organized branches in many places, all having their own congregations. It also includes The Christian Science Board of Directors, an administrative and supervisory office of unique scope and value; The Christian Science Publishing Society, exceedingly important for many reasons; and all of the other activities and agencies defined and described in the Church Manual. Further, the Christian Science church in its largest aspect includes the other agencies and auxiliaries for which Mrs. Eddy has provided under the broad terms "Boards of Trustees and Syndicates" in Article I, Section 8, of the Church Manual. Then, too, the branch churches and societies have their distinct means and modes for promoting the Christian Science religion in accordance with her plan. Moreover, the teachers, the practitioners, and the nurses, although they render individual services for particular persons, are engaged primarily in doing their parts of an entire work.
Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth, "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (I Cor. 12:6). This statement can be adapted and applied to the Christian Science movement. It includes "diversities of operations," but it is also characterized by unity; in all its aspects it expresses the one Principle of all that is good or real; and oneness in and with divine Principle is its chief characteristic.
