THE spontaneous affection which beginning students of Christian Science generally feel for the Church of Christ, Scientist—The Mother Church and its branches—does not diminish, but is strengthened and becomes still more firmly grounded as they advance in understanding and experience. It assumes more and more the character of joyful, yet matter-of-fact, appreciation of this Church as a superbly wrought instrument for the enlightenment and redemption of mankind.
The purpose and function of the Church are summed up by its Founder, Mary Baker Eddy, in these words in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583): "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."
Mrs. Eddy had no thought that any church was excluded from the great work here described. She earnestly desired that all churches, through recognition of the Science of Christ Jesus' teaching, and consequent doing of the works which he did, should come to be thus definable; and she expected them to do this eventually. But the definition exactly describes the work to which the Church of Christ, Scientist, is committed, and on which it is engaged ; and the student of Christian Science sees with growing conviction that this Church—The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, together with its branches—could hardly have been better planned for its work.
