In a letter to a branch church on the occasion of its dedication, Mrs. Eddy wrote, "The praiseworthy success of this church, and its united efforts to build an edifice in which to worship the infinite, sprang from the temples erected first in the hearts of its members—the unselfed love that builds without hands, eternal in the heaven of Spirit" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 195). Herein, then, lies the secret of all successful church building. Always are the temples erected first in the hearts of the members. As each member casts out the material sense of church and strives to bring every thought into obedience to that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," he begins to lay in his own heart the foundation of the church built upon the Rock, Christ.
When the demand arises for a new church home, each member, with renewed consecration, prepares his heart for Love's occupancy. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." Church building will be blessed as the prayer rises in each heart, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight. 0 Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."
In the final analysis, true church building is character building. This is a most important aspect of church building. The outward structure will be but a visible expression of the inner sanctuary. The true concept of Church will be made manifest as the temple not made with hands grows and expands in thought.
