In the March 1979 issue of The Christian Science Journal appeared a Board statement entitled "Putting first things first," which has had a magnificent response from the Christian Science Field. It is not too much to say that since then there has been a widespread spiritual awakening to the crucial importance of the means, methods, and activities provided by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in the Manual of The Mother Church for the successful carrying on of the Christian Science movement.
As that earlier statement put it: "The times demand less talk and more healing. Spirituality, which is the great need today, is furthered best by individual study, class instruction, growth, and demonstration. Collective listening to others is not a substitute, or always a help."
There is still a tendency among some Christian Scientists, however, to yield to the false attraction of talks, courses, seminars, pamphlets, study outlines, tapes, books, and reprints of all sorts that claim to "teach" Christian Science in a more exciting or profound way than our Leader provided through the system of education she established.
