In the Manual of The Mother Church (Historical Sketch, p. 17), the following occurs: "At a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association, April 12, 1879, on motion of Mrs. Eddy, it was voted,—To organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing."
"Reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing"! What better reason could there be for the existence of our church than to reinstate the "lost element of healing"! Grateful are we for the progress attained thus far; but let us ask ourselves to what extent we are furthering the consummation of the ideals of Christianity and healing, which will, in truth, save the world.
The statement just quoted is a positive call from our Leader to discipleship—to follow the mandate laid down by the Master to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." The Christian, especially the Christian Scientist, finds no escape from his responsibility of answering favorably this call to healing work. Our Cause stands upon the healing work of the members of our church; and although practitioners whose names are listed in The Christian Science Journal are needed, each individual member should be doing some work as a practitioner. The disciple who will most closely follow the blazed trail of our Leader is the one who is obedient, alert to the opportunity for helpfulness, that one who truly listens and does not merely hear, that one who perceives and does not just supinely see. "Irecommend that each member of this Church shall strive to demonstrate by his or her practice, that Christian Science heals the sick quickly and wholly, thus proving this Science to be all that we claim for it" (Manual, Art. XXX, Sect. 7). This is the call Mrs. Eddy gives us as members of her Church.
