IN the early days of the Christian Science movement, the testimony meetings now held on Wednesdays were held on Fridays. When Mrs. Eddy became aware that a collection was being taken at these meetings, she requested that the practice be discontinued. Her remarks on the subject are recorded in her book "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 149): "Invite all cordially and freely to this banquet of Christian Science, this feast and flow of Soul. Ask them to bring what they possess of love and light to help leaven your loaf and replenish your scanty store."
If ever we are tempted to believe that our midweek meetings are lacking in attendance or continuity, we may well ponder the foregoing quotation. Prayer and spiritual inspiration can replace a false concept of the meetings with a clearer realization of what our Leader must have beheld as the "feast and flow of Soul."
In Article VIII, Section 24, of the Manual we read: "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases' (Psalm 103:3)." The purpose of the meeting is clear when we realize that a testimony "illustrates the demonstration of Christ." The Wednesday testimony meeting is unique; it is certainly an occasion of special moment, and the invitation to attend it should be joyously accepted.
