The student of Christian Science gets a special blessing from reading the periodicals of the movement—a strong sense of fellowship with other Christian Scientists. He not only benefits from the fresh ideas the articles express, but he learns from the experiences of others. He has it brought home to him again and again that he is not working alone. Others are working along the same lines as he is, having some of the very same problems to meet and meeting them. He is surrounded by an innumerable company of friends.
This is a priceless companionship. It is right for students of Christian Science to have this sense of fellowship with one another, this consciousness of being with friends. Christ Jesus saw Christian fellowship as one of the blessings his followers forever should share—a fellowship built on a deeper foundation than the world knows. Jesus prayed for his present disciples and for those in all time to come "that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."John 17:21;
Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "To happify existence by constant intercourse with those adapted to elevate it, should be the motive of society."Science and Health, pp. 57,58; Those who have written the articles in the Christian Science periodicals might well be counted among "those adapted to elevate" our existence. I have often felt, as I read a copy of the Journal, the Sentinel, the Herald, or the Monitor, that it was as though I had made welcome in my home a group of people who had come to share with me their healings and their spiritual development. Often their articles have brought answers to the very problems vexing me. Often they have shown me some fresh view of Truth I needed to be awakened to, or some material, mortal misconception to which I had not been alert.
