REFERRING to Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 232), "Every man and every woman would desire and demand it, if he and she knew its infinite value and firm basis."
Christian Scientists who have demonstrated in varying degrees the "infinite value and firm basis" of this Science in meeting the human need are motivated, through a natural sense of gratitude, to make its promises known to their brother men. Many ask themselves often, "What more can I do to advance the Cause of Christian Science, which delivers mankind from the inharmonies of the flesh?"
The alert student recognizes that no matter what his human situation may be, there is always something more he can do to this end. He realizes that the endeavor to reach out to receptive hearts must flow from the consecrated effort of each student to work out his own salvation in consonance with demonstrating his love for God through his loving activity in behalf of mankind.
The student also recognizes that the promulgation of the gospel of Christian Science must be carried on through the channels provided by our Leader, who knew how necessary it is to keep one's efforts moving along strictly spiritual lines. Thus, one's pure aspirations will lead one to ever-increasing awareness of his ability to support the unfolding potentials of these activities.
One of the channels through which Christian Scientists can demonstrate their willingness to spread the gospel of Truth is the Wednesday testimony meeting. The potentials herein for reaching out to meet the human need are great. This is easily understood when the purpose and functioning of these meetings are thoughtfully examined. Such an appraisal also indicates why strong metaphysical support of this activity may confidently be expected to provide an ever more powerful impetus to the expansion of our movement.
The hour is devoted to the unselfish imparting of good. The Reader, with his prepared selections from the Bible and Science and Health, and the congregation, with its offering of testimonies and prayerful support, demonstrate their unselfed concern for their brother men.
The church membership is provided the opportunity to give regular, prayerful metaphysical support to this divinely inspired work. In doing this, they will affirm man's wisdom as Mind's reflection. Thus they are working to prove the ability of all church members or of visitors seeking the help of Love to differentiate between the true attraction of Spirit and the false attraction of error. The latter would consistently suggest pleasant or logical reasons why one should not be in attendance. The demonstrated results of the metaphysical work of members will be seen in growing attendance, spontaneous and inspired testimonies of healing, and the attraction of visitors who are ready to receive the truth.
The seeker will note that the members have all assembled for the purpose of praising God and in an unselfed effort to help and strengthen their fellowmen. He will learn from the testimonies given in a simple and direct manner how the understanding of Christian Science has been applied successfully to various problems.
No matter what the physical or moral status of the seeker may be, no matter what intellectual level he may have reached, what he hears at the testimony meeting he can grasp and take away with him. Here is manifested the Bible promise (Ps. 19:7), "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."
All who truly desire to do more for the Cause of Christian Science can dedicate themselves, more diligently than ever before to the metaphysical support of the Wednesday testimony meetings. They can do so with confidence, knowing that they are laboring in a vineyard of abundant and far-reaching fruitage. To prayerfully support these meetings will awaken those members who do not seem at present to be aware of their duty and will make them cognizant of the opportunities inherent in this area of effort. All must sooner or later come to a fuller understanding of the statement by Christ Jesus, as recorded in Matthew (25:40), "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
The need for mankind to find an answer to the increasing fear of disease and its attendant hopelessness, economic inequality, racial unrest, the decline in moral values, and many other problems was never more imperative than today. Therefore men and women should know of the "infinite value and firm basis" of Christian Science, which will solve all these problems. This, then, is the challenge which our members can go forth to meet. They can understand and utilize the blessing of Christian Science for themselves, but at the same time they must share it widely through the divinely ordained channels for doing so.
Following the example of the Master, who evidenced a deep sense of compassion for humanity, Mrs. Eddy established every activity of our movement in accord with the Biblical command to love one another. The Wednesday testimony meeting offers each Christian Scientist an unparalleled opportunity to obey this command of brotherly love. Its potential will be developed in direct proportion to the gratitude and compassion which we show in fulfillment of the purpose of this meeting—to reach out in love.
Our Leader says on page 226 of Science and Health: "I saw before me the sick, wearing out years of servitude to an unreal master in the belief that the body governed them, rather than Mind. The lame, the deaf, the dumb, the blind, the sick, the sensual, the sinner, I wished to save from the slavery of their own beliefs and from the educational systems of the Pharaohs, who to-day, as of yore, hold the children of Israel in bondage." Let us do our part in this great healing work by reaching out in love to our fellowmen.
