[As published in the Christian Science Sentinel, January 18, 1941, and February 1, 1947]
Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has provided that "the associations of the pupils of loyal teachers shall convene annually" (Manual of The Mother Church, Art. XXVI, Sect. 6). Christian Scientists realize that their associations should receive their loving interest and support, and that an effort should be made to attend the meetings of the association of which each is a member. There are occasions when conditions prevent a pupil's being present at his own association meeting, and in such a contingency he may, by invitation, attend the association of another teacher's pupils.
It is generally understood that Section 7 of the same Article of the Manual permits attendance at but one association meeting annually—either one's own or another —and that the privilege of visiting another pupils' association is to be taken advantage of only under unusual circumstances. When an association has been left without a teacher, it ceases to increase in numbers, and the members will doubtless consider carefully, before accepting invitations to meetings of other pupils' associations, whether by so doing they will cause their own association meetings to be depleted in attendance, interest, and support.
