Jesus recognized the need for J co-operative Christian warfare against evil when he sent his disciples "two and two . . . into every city and place" as missionaries. In modern application that method is amended and expanded, but its purpose remains.
Earnest Christian Scientists are present-day disciples, carrying the gospel of Truth to humanity. Much of their work is co-operative in the activities organized under the Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. These activities extend from The Mother Church in Boston into each of its world-wide branches, affording ample opportunity for progress in Christian Science. Of this Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Church Manual (Art. VIII, Sect. 15): "God requires our whole heart, and He supplies within the wide channels of The Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation for all its members." Service in these "wide channels" is varied and extensive, and therein is no room for rivalry.
As instituted by Mrs. Eddy, the government of these branch churches is democratic, inviting the best efforts of members according to their individual talent and capacity. A noted religionist recently said, "Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people." Periodically each branch church elects and appoints some of its members for various posts having appropriate official duties. The duties of some of these posts may place the incumbents somewhat prominently before the public. Other duties may be carried on in relative obscurity. Even so, the service in either case is important in the functioning of the organization.
