THE everyday activities of thousands of business and professional men and women center in their offices. City streets are bordered by hundreds of towering structures devoted solely or principally to offices, in which hundreds of thousands of workers are employed. How important that a proper concept of this familiar institution, the office, should be held! Of assistance in gaining this proper concept is the meaning of the word itself, with the light that is thrown upon it by Christian Science.
However commonplace the noun "office" may have become through constant use, it is a word of striking dignity. It is probably derived from the Latin words ops, signifying "ability, wealth, help," and facere, to do or make. Among the meanings given by a dictionary are the following: a service; duty connected with an occupation, position, etc.; position of trust or ministration; proper action; function; the place where a particular kind of business or service for others is transacted.
The last of these meanings is the one which is most frequently conveyed as the word is commonly used to-day. It is worthy of emphasis that an office is by definition a place where is performed a business or service for others. One may not, then, properly speak of his headquarters as his office unless he is transacting there some sort of business or service for others. No business of an exclusively selfish nature, no activity inimical to one's fellow man, can be carried on in an atmosphere worthy of the name of "office." It is related of the treasurers appointed by Nehemiah, that "their office was to distribute unto their brethren."
In asking one's self, What is my office? one should ask at the same time: What is my rightful service? What is my duty? What is my position? What is my function? What is my place? Christian Science supplies a ready answer to these questions.
As regards service, we learn from Paul's epistle to the Romans that the "reasonable service" of Christians is to present their bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God;" which may be construed as meaning to demonstrate health through a right understanding of and obedience to God's law. This is a Christian office.
Concerning our duty to God and man, Mrs. Eddy has written in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 496), "In Christian Science the first duty is to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself." These also are our offices as Christian Scientists.
The means of showing our position as Christian Scientists, Mrs. Eddy has described (ibid., p.182) as "the act of healing the sick through divine Mind alone, of casting out error with Truth." This is indeed a high office, to which every true Christian is elected.
With respect to our function as Christian Scientists, we are daily guided through prayerful study of our textbooks, the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, into activities which bless not only ourselves, but all mankind. The importance which Mrs. Eddy attached to the faithful performance of their functions by those allied with the Christian Science movement is apparent in the Manual of The Mother Church.
Christian Science has clearly defined the place which we must fill. "A Christian Scientist," our Leader writes (ibid., p. 367), "occupies the place at this period of which Jesus spoke to his disciples, when he said: Ye are the salt of the earth.' 'Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.' " Our office is to fulfill this high calling. There is need for us to be constantly on guard lest our high office as Christian Scientists be permitted to degenerate into idle routine or empty ceremonial. To this low level of mere formalism of the letter without the spirit, we cannot permit our office to be degraded.
The office of a Christian Scientist abounds in dignity and honor. The task which Christian Science assigns to us may appear to be a humble office, but its faithful performance leads onward to a high goal, namely, to the demonstration of holiness, purification of thought and deed.
