Today, more than ever before, the individual is aware of his need to be of service to others: to his neighbor, his community, his world. Class instruction brings to the student of Christian Science an individual blessing, spiritual and practical. It also provides him with the systematized knowledge of how to use the essential tools, spiritual, moral, and intellectual, which will equip him to share with others the blessing he has himself received from Christian Science.
The class instruction is by a certified teacher of Christian Science. In the Manual of The Mother Church, Mary Baker Eddy sets out the conditions for this class instruction (Articles XXVI and XXVII). Her other writings contain much on spiritual education in general and on this important forward step in particular. Those who have yet to take this step can profitably make an in-depth study of all such references.
For each student his demonstration of class instruction, allowed to unfold naturally under the impulsion and guidance of divine Principle, is individual and complete. As our Leader writes, "Principle is not to be found in fragmentary ideas" (Science and Health, p. 302). This completeness includes the student's perception of the teacher who will best prepare him to be a more useful Christian Scientist and this teacher's acceptance of him. It also includes right timing. Once the student has fully committed himself to Christian Science, years of experience are not necessarily required. And timing is certainly not a matter of age.
