Each member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, would do well to remind himself often of the purpose for which Mary Baker Eddy founded this Church, lest he take his membership for granted and so lose something of his first joy. Whereas a young student may eagerly study the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and other writings by Mrs. Eddy, it may be a little while before he realizes the value of studying the Manual of The Mother Church, which she also gave us. But when he does turn to it, he finds that it contains not only By-Laws for the protection of The Mother Church and its branches and for every activity of the Christian Science movement, but precious truths for the enrichment of his own experience.
In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes in her chapter entitled "Marriage" (p. 57), "The attraction between native qualities will be perpetual only as it is pure and true, bringing sweet seasons of renewal like the returning spring." If, in a life partnership between two people, the value of such sweet seasons of renewal is stressed by our Leader, are they not of equal value in any covenant or membership into which we may enter?
A possession highly valued and deeply prized is sometimes spoken of as a cherished possession. A dictionary defines "cherish" in part as, "To hold dear; to treat with tenderness and affection;...to nurture with care;...to harbor in the mind; cling to." As we hold The Mother Church dear, filling our consciousness with tenderness and affection for it, and nurturing our growing understanding of its place in God's plan for the redemption of mankind, we shall experience daily renewal of our gratitude and love for membership in it. When we harbor the true concept of Church in our thinking, we shall not heed the suggestions of error that our membership means less to us than it did at first. Neither shall we be tempted to believe that because The Mother Church may be located many hundreds or thousands of miles from our home we are remote from it. We shall know, instead, not as words only but as a living fact, that we can never be separated from The Mother Church, with its sheltering love and protection. And as we cherish it thus in our hearts, we shall gain a fresh vision of the purpose for which Mrs. Eddy founded it.
