When a teacher of Christian Science is no longer available to his pupils, the responsibility for the continued progress of the association appears to shift to the members themselves. In the Manual of The Mother Church, Article XXVII, Section 2, Mary Baker Eddy provides that "Those beloved brethren whose teacher has left them, can elect an experienced Christian Scientist, who is not in charge of an association of students and who is ready for this high calling, to conduct the meetings of their association."
Occasionally a teacher of Christian Science receives a request from a member of such an association to attend his association meeting. Such attendance is provided for by Article XXVI, Section 7, of the Manual, which states, "Pupils may visit each other's churches, and by invitation attend each other's associations." But it is generally assumed that the association is a unit which, if rightly supported, can produce great growth among its own members.
As a Golden Rule matter, therefore— thinking of how he would like his own association encouraged to continue its growth—the thoughtful teacher ascertains the reason for the request before granting it. The student who for good reason feels he is unable to get to his own association meeting would of course be considered eligible for an invitation, although the decision to invite would still rest entirely with the teacher. But the student who feels he is in need of more spiritual refreshment than he expects to get from his own association meeting presents another problem.
