Students of Christian Science who make the effort to assess their thinking regarding various phases of our Cause will be rewarded with a deeper understanding and appreciation of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and its branches. This Church is not just another human organization; it is, in fact, the effect in human experience of Mrs. Eddy's perception of the true Church, which she defines in the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."Science and Health, p. 583; The outward organization of The Mother Church and its branches, apparent to human sense, is the external manifestation of the present understanding of the spiritual structure, or Church.
The second part of the definition of "Church" reads: "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."
As the comprehension of the spiritual sense of Church grows and spreads among people, the outward activities in Christian Science will be seen to be more and more effective in providing means for individual and collective spiritualization of thought.
