THE MOTHER CHURCH, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and its branches are established for the sacred purpose of bringing spiritual and Christian healing to communities.
Every community is in great need of what only Christian Science is offering, namely a spiritually scientific understanding of God and of man and the universe. It was this understanding which Christ Jesus used so effectively in solving every human problem and which he said others who knew the truth could also use. This is his promise to all mankind (John 14:12): "Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
Thousands of Christian Scientists the world over have been recipients of the blessings which Christian Science brings, but there are untold numbers of people in our church neighborhoods who are unmindful of Christian Science and of how practical its teachings can be in solving and destroying all sorts of human discord.
Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" says (p. 570), "Millions of unprejudiced minds —simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert—are waiting and watching for rest and drink."
Sometimes human opinion suggests that the neighborhood of one's branch church is changing and that the new residents are not in as much need of the truth or are not as receptive to Christian Science as were the former residents. This is entirely without scientific and Christian foundation.
No one is beyond or barred from a knowledge of the truth. We must realize the scientific fact that human consciousness is in dire need of the Christ, Truth, that it can be awakened to it, yield to it, and be healed by it. Does not the Bible say (Jer. 31:34), "They shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord"?
The history of the Christian church is full of accounts of the successful endeavors of its missionaries in bringing Christianity to people in many lands, people who could not even understand their language but could understand their kindly interest in them.
What greater kindness could be shown humanity than that of healing the sick and purifying the sinner, as Christian Science surely does?
That all peoples are attracted by Christian Science is substantiated by the Reverend Irving C. Tomlinson in his book entitled "Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy." He writes (p.100), "One of the marked characteristics of Christian Science is the universal appeal it has made to all races and nationalities."
Let not error befool anyone that race, color, creed, or background can prevent the acceptance of Christian Science, for this religion teaches that man is spiritual, reflecting the Godlike qualities of discernment and intelligence.
The most important and most effective work of a branch church and its membership is metaphysical. Seeing the real Church and community as spiritual rather than material will do much to destroy the claims of indifference, antagonism, agnosticism, and atheism. The church member and his neighbors are in reality spiritual ideas of God, all acting together under the control of divine Mind, enjoying the gladness of Soul, expressing the substance of Spirit, the vigor and vitality of Life, the stability of Principle, the fearlessness and power of Truth, and the goodness and wisdom of divine Love.
In the realm of the real, all are under the roof of the true Church, the Church which Mrs. Eddy defines on page 583 of Science and Health as, "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Referring to this Church, Christ Jesus said (Matt. 16:18), "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Although recognizing prayer and individual spiritual growth as essential to the progress of the Cause of Christian Science, the wise worker will note the human footsteps requisite for the practical application of Christian Science through its human organization of church. Continuing her definition of "Church," Mrs. Eddy says, "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."
Inspired reading, convincing testimonies, uplifting music, cheerful ushering, are practical helps. Adequate, well-maintained, and properly located churches are important too. The proper location of churches in old and new centers of population will help all communities. A branch Church of Christ, Scientist, will not be parochial in its outlook in regard to working out this problem with other branch churches. Thus the community, the church, and the Cause of Christian Science will be blessed.
