To those of us who seek clarity of thought regarding God and man, and unselfish activity in His service, and who yearn to obey His will, the Church Manual by Mary Baker Eddy abounds with loving admonitions for our guidance. Of the value of the Manual to Christian Scientists, our revered Leader definitely states in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 230), "Of this I am sure, that each Rule and By-law in this Manual will increase the spirituality of him who obeys it, invigorate his capacity to heal the sick, to comfort such as mourn, and to awaken the sinner." How important, then, to study the Manual prayerfully, to become thoroughly acquainted with it, to ponder its words of counsel, and unselfishly to apply its Rules!
The By-Laws of the Manual are very important. Giving special attention to Article VIII, Section 6, under the subject "Alertness to Duty," we read as follows: "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned." Alertness, a key word to the meaning of this By-Law, found in the title itself, implies watchfulness, wide-awakeness, awareness. Our obligation, as set forth, is "daily" to be watchful and alert, and to pray that we be not made to forget nor to neglect our duty to God, to our Leader, and to mankind. That these obligations are definite and important, all will agree. Furthermore, this By-Law also clearly states the error which would make us forget and neglect this duty—nothing other than aggressive mental suggestion.
Aggressive mental suggestion has little chance of befooling the student who is mentally alert, and of stupefying him. The alert student is little likely to become neglectful of the glorious opportunity for the unselfish service to God, to our Leader, and to mankind which Christian Science offers him. For such service opens the gateway to heaven itself, to lasting harmony; and it fulfills both the law and the gospel. Furthermore, it may be asserted that alertness to duty is both a privilege gained and an obligation assumed by every Christian Scientist in subscribing to the Tenets of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist.
