AN institution that is useful is worthy of support. The definition of "Church" in ''Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 583) emphasizes utility as one of its essential characteristics. It reads in part: "The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."
How is The Mother Church useful? Many of us remember with gratitude our first healing through the help of a Christian Science practitioner. We recall articles in the periodicals that have been helpful. We turn to the Christian Science Quarterly for daily study, and its Lesson-Sermons are used as the basis of the Sunday church services. We rely on The Christian Science Monitor for a perspective on the daily news. A Christian Science lecture brings us fresh inspiration. Class instruction gives us a deeper understanding and greater effectiveness in demonstration. Committees on Publication are prepared to assist us in acquainting us with state health laws and in protecting the right of the church and its members. The Mother Church has made all this possible.
The Christian Science journal, the Quarterly, the Sentinel, and the Herald in its various editions, and the Monitor, the practitioners listed in the Journal, the Christian Science lecturers, the teachers of Christian Science, and the Committees on Publication —all these are provided in accordance with the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy. We sometimes hardly realize how much we depend upon the services which only The Mother Church is able to perform; how it has proved its utility in our experience.
