WHEN, some years ago, the writer had the privilege of visiting for the first time The Mother Church in Boston, she was very much struck by the kind words, "You are very welcome." The spirit of brotherly love that lay behind the words gave her such a warm feeling of being at home, of being made welcome in the big family of fellow workers, that fresh inspiration and a better understanding of universal brotherhood were gained. As she pondered this experience in the light of Christian Science, it became very clear to her that this could not have been otherwise; for the God-inspired desire to see more of the activities of the Christian Science movement was answered by that same Mother-love which prompted it, and must fulfill it even in detail.
And so these loving words of welcome, creating an atmosphere of home—likeness and kindness, point one to the divine source of all good. They hint at the tender Mother-love of God, who always bids His children to come home, to come to the recognition of man's dwelling place in the divine Mind. This same Mother-love inspired and sustained Mary Baker Eddy in her life of selfless service, causing her to watch and "pray without ceasing," so that she might prepare a home in the organization of The Mother Church for all seekers after Truth.
How was it possible for our Leader not only to become the Discoverer of Christian Science and writer of its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," but also to accomplish the gigantic work of establishing and organizing The Mother Church? Was it not because she understood in such a full sense the fatherhood and motherhood of God? Was it not her reflection of unfaltering and all-embracing divine Love which animated and sustained her during her journey through the wilderness of material beliefs?
Certainly, others before Mrs. Eddy have had the assurance of God's tender love for His children. For instance, it is beautifully expressed in the book of Isaiah thus: "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." But who has had her revelation of the Science of creation, which lay concealed in the Scriptures, waiting for the seeing eye to discern it and make it practical? Our Leader understood God as the only creator and man as the image or reflection of the Father-Mother God, thus uniting the male and female qualities in one spiritual, individual consciousness, complete and perfect. Furthermore, she saw that since God, Spirit, is infinite, this precludes the existence of another creator and another creation; and she was led to the logical conclusion that the so-called material universe, including material man, is without cause, without Principle, and therefore unreal.
Mrs. Eddy's revelation and demonstration of these facts culminated in the organization of "a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" (Church Manual, p. 17). So The Mother Church, built on the healing word and works of the Master, stands as the highest expression on earth of God's Mother-love, stretching out its tender, strong arms to the whole human family, and calling home its own, as the good shepherd called his lambs to the fold and safety. It calls to its bosom the weary and discouraged, the sick and the sinner—calls them to the home where they "are very welcome;" that is, to the divine consciousness where rest is to be found, and healing from all distressing beliefs, through the realization of man's present perfection as the beloved child of God.
This same Love, so abundantly expressed by our Master, never failed to meet all human needs. It called home Jesus' disciples when, after his crucifixion, they were groping in the darkness of doubt and discouragement, apparently far from home and without "any meat," without truth to sustain them. But even as before, the Christ, Truth, was present to awaken them out of the dream of material sense; and in lovingly ministering to their needs the invitation was uttered, "Come and dine." May not this be interpreted to mean, Come and partake of the bread of heaven, the truth of spiritual being, which satisfies every right desire? This meeting with the Christ is possible for every fainting heart through the Christ Science! For the invitation to come and see what the heavenly-Giver of all good has already done for His children is extended to all; and it is reaching humanity to-day in an ever growing measure.
Through many channels the love of God is flowing into human consciousness, destroying sinful and ignorant beliefs, and so redeeming mortals in both mind and body. It may be that the human agency in bringing the glad tidings of great joy takes form in one of the Christian Science periodicals, reaching the most remote parts of the globe; or in a lecture on Christian Science, a service in one of the many Christian Science churches, or a visit to a Christian Science Reading Room. But, metaphysically understood, the underlying gift is always God's love, which draws its own. And when we are obedient to the call to come home, the loving welcome is always heard, the welcome to the Christ-consciousness, wherein our real self forever dwells by divine birthright.
Once, a man who attended a Sunday morning service in a Christian Science church for the first time thanked the Second Reader for the Bible readings, because for the first time in his life he had felt a wonderful sense of peace and rest while listening to the well-known texts. Did not he accept the invitation and hear the words of welcome to his true home? Whatever our need may be, Love knows how to meet it by awakening us out of the dream of life in matter to the perception of our real being as the perfect reflection of the perfect creator. No wonder that this awakening and simultaneous healing process results in the ever wider spreading of the branches of The Mother Church! For, having found for themselves their God-given home, Christian Scientists desire to share with all mankind its regenerating and protective influence; and this desire, proceeding from and blessed by the Father-Mother God, ripens into those two inseparable fruits, healing and building.
In her poem "Mother's Evening Prayer" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 389;) (Poems, p. 4) our Leader prays, "Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night." And thousands of Christian Scientists all over the world are ready to testify with gratitude unspeakable that her prayer has not returned unto her void. Thanks to the prayers of their Leader they have come to recognize that the invitation to come home is daily, hourly, being accepted and enjoyed; that it is bearing fruit in proportion as they are humbly and prayerfully striving to forsake evil for good, the unreal for the real, matter for Spirit. Furthermore, they acknowledge that their individual salvation from all evil, as well as the redemption of the whole human race, is made possible through the revelation of this divine fact in Christian Science that the beloved of Love has never in reality strayed from "the Father's house in which are many mansions, many welcomes, many pardons for the penitent" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 133).
