We are wont to regard those Christian Scientists who were contemporaries of Mary Baker Eddy as pioneers with her in the establishment of the Christian Science movement. While it is true that Mrs. Eddy was a pioneer in every sense of the word, it must be remembered that she is first of all the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and the Leader of the Christian Science movement. Nevertheless, as a pioneer, it was Mrs. Eddy's exalted mission to carry on the work of pioneering together with her immediate followers in a manner described in the Bible as the "breaking of bread."
This "bread" is referred to by our Leader in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 33). She says, "It was the great truth of spiritual being, healing the sick and casting out error." And she further explains: "Their Master had explained it all before, and now this bread was feeding and sustaining them. They had borne this bread from house to house, breaking (explaining) it to others, and now it comforted themselves." This mission must be carried on now just as in the early days of our movement. It can never come to an end. The same consecrated pioneering spirit that opened the way in Christian Science for the Christian Scientists of today must go on with increased vigor and devotion, and the Christian Scientist of today must become the pioneer for today's as well as tomorrow's Christian Scientist.
What the early Christians did as pioneers in bringing others into the then new way of Christian life is clearly and convincingly set forth in that colorful and spiritually eventful narrative known as "The book of the Acts." There is to be found complete and satisfying evidence that those whose privilege and joy it was to serve as apostles for the new faith also took upon themselves the obligation of pioneering for it. There is no least indication of a desire to ignore or evade this sacred responsibility, especially on the ground that the pioneering work on behalf of the new religion had already been done by Christ jesus or by his disciples. Christianity is a religion not just for receiving divine good; rather is it a religion for reflecting divine good to others. It is a religion of service to God in service to men.
