Each branch Church of Christ, Scientist, which is supported by members who are active students of Christian Science demonstrating Truth and Love, makes an important contribution to the Cause of Christian Science. Whether the progressive branch church is located in a small community or in a larger center of population, its services and other activities are significant and far-reaching.
A student remarked to the writer that one of the most inspiring church services she had ever attended in her travels was held in a Christian Science Society located in a certain town. The congregation was small, and the soloist, who sang beautifully, was her own accompanist. The student was impressed by the joy and consecration evidenced in the entire service, as was her husband, who was with her and who is not a student of Christian Science.
That the size of the church has no relationship to the amount of inspiration which can be derived from its services was realized by the writer when for the first time she attended a Sunday service in The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. She had expected to be somewhat awed by the size and grandeur of the edifice, but such was not the case. While enjoying the quiet beauty of the interior of the edifice, she at the same time felt a sense of peace and harmony, just as she had in the services held in the small branch church of which she is a member and in the services held in other branch churches which she has attended.
As the service progressed the writer became renewedly grateful for Mary Baker Eddy's inspired wisdom in establishing the Lesson-Sermons, outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly, as the main part of the Sunday service in The Mother Church and in all of its branches. This provision makes it possible for one to listen to essentially the same Sunday service in any Church of Christ, Scientist, he may attend.
One profits from the service in proportion to his receptivity to the spiritual truths which are being read from our two great textbooks, the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. The Lesson-Sermon serves as a bond of unity between all Churches of Christ, Scientist, and it also helps to unify, or make of one Mind, all those who faithfully study it.
Mrs. Eddy writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (pp. 246, 247:) "The Magna Charta of Christian Science means much, multum in parvo, —all-in-one and one-in-all. It stands for the inalienable, universal rights of men. Essentially democratic, its government is administered by the common consent of the governed, wherein and whereby man governed by his creator is self -governed." In the Manual of The Mother Church Mrs. Eddy has indicated that the branch Church of Christ, Scientist, shall be strictly democratic in its government.
Where all important questions concerning a branch church are thoroughly discussed in a constructive manner in the business meetings of its members and then voted upon, a true sense of harmony and co-operation can be maintained. In casting his vote, the individual member is conscious that he has a voice in the government of his church, and his interest in its affairs is thereby increased.
The sincere student always accepts the outcome of a membership vote cheerfully and without rancor, even though it may not seem to him to be the best result. He can rest assured that in reality divine Principle continues to govern all and that anything which is not in the best interests of the church will be adjusted eventually by the operation of Truth and Love.
In the Glossary of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy gives as the first part of her definition of "Church" (p. 583), "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Just as holding in thought the correct concept of man as a perfect, spiritual idea of God makes it possible for one to enjoy health and harmony, so the acknowledgment that the Church is a spiritual structure, in its real identity, contributes to harmonious and fruitful activity in the church organization.
The student who keeps his thought harmonious and loving and refuses to allow it to become occupied with human personalities helps to promote good will and good works in the branch church to which he belongs.
May we all heed Paul's counsel to the Christians at Ephesus (Eph. 4:1-3), "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
It is important that one work metaphysically for the welfare of the branch church of which he is a member, realizing its immunity from animal magnetism, or evil, which would, if possible, interfere with the spiritual progress of the Cause of Christian Science and of its adherents. The Church of Christ, Scientist, is the visible evidence of the church which Christ Jesus founded upon the rock, Truth, and of which he said (Matt. 16:18), "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." To realize the powerlessness of evil to affect the harmonious and productive activity of one's branch church helps to protect one's own experience from aggressive evil.
The understanding that Church is a spiritual structure, always perfect and sustained by infinite Mind, Truth, Love, does not cause the student to be indifferent toward branch church affairs. Rather does it make him aware of the importance of supporting the. branch church of which he is a member, and he does so in every way possible—in right thinking, regular attendance, generous contributions, and in suitable participation in its operations.
The student supports the church thus in order that it may be able to fulfill its mission, which Mrs. Eddy has outlined in the second part of her inspired definition of "Church": "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."
