In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes these words, familiar to all Christian Scientists (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." Here our Leader is speaking of the effective action of Christian Scientists not so much as individual representatives of their religion, but as a group of spiritual workers united in that great institution, the church. In this conception of church as a vital, potent instrumentality of God's law we may see tremendous possibilities for outstanding, regenerating activity, for unlimited spiritual giving on an impersonal basis.
The Christian church has long been established as a community activity. For centuries the presence of a church edifice in town or city has marked the devotion of the townsfolk to the worship of God. The simple dignity of a church has stood as a symbol of that which is noble, good, and Godlike. The sermons, the hymns of praise, the prayers of the congregations, have surely kept alive the desire of a community's Christian folk to know and love God and to obey His laws.
The Church of Christ, Scientist, has this vital relation to a community. Because the religion it stands for practices primitive Christian healing, it has a unique opportunity in the area it serves. The impersonal Word of God revealed by the divine Mind through the Christ, Truth, is a law of spiritual regeneration and healing. Since the action of divine Mind is purely spiritual, Christian Scientists understand that the mental atmosphere of a community can be benefited by unselfed prayer. As branch church members devote time and thought to this spiritual awakening of receptivity to Truth it will be seen that those hungering for the true knowledge of God will be aroused to seek the Science of Christianity. Inspired by a genuine love for God and man, activated by divine wisdom, alerted by angelic intuitions of scientific knowing, Christian Scientists prove the possibilities of this impersonal church work for the community to be unlimited.
