To spread abroad the gospel of the healing and redeeming Christ, Truth, is the mission of the branches of The Mother Church. To be a member of such a branch of the vine and to work and pray for its progress and loyalty to Truth, are priceless privileges. The tensile strength of a member's understanding of divine Principle may be put to severe tests. In "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker Eddy, we find this counsel (p. 224): "We should remember that the world is wide; that there are a thousand million different human wills, opinions, ambitions, tastes, and loves; that each person has a different history, constitution, culture, character, from all the rest."
The memberships of branch churches seem to be thus made up. This affords plenty of opportunity for each member to prove his patience, show his tolerance, develop impartiality, cultivate kindness, and practice charity. In the conduct of the church business he sees the mightiness of meekness. In the case of seeming discords, he learns to look inward to find what needs correction. Working for the support and protection of the branch helps to clarify his vision. It also develops a keener appreciation of Mrs. Eddy and the import of her discovery. The magnitude of our Cause and its destiny dawns upon him. His love for his neighbor increases, and with it comes the desire to labor in a true Christian spirit with members of other branch churches in the harvest field of God.
Each member's responsibilities increase concomitantly with his privileges. The Manual of The Mother church by our Leader, not personal opinion, is his guide. His duties are as varied as the wide range of the Soul-inspired provisions of the Manual. To follow these rules in doing his part to maintain a branch church aids in the establishment of the kingdom of heaven upon earth.
