Why is it that individuals attending services in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, studying in Christian Science Reading Rooms, reading Christian Science literature, and attending Christian Science lectures find healing? Because the Church of Christ, Scientist, as established by Mrs. Eddy, is a healing Church. She makes its purpose abundantly clear in the "Historical Sketch" contained in the Manual of The Mother Church, which declares, "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., is designed to be built on the Rock, Christ; even the understanding and demonstration of divine Truth, Life, and Love, healing and saving the world from sin and death; thus to reflect in some degree the Church Universal and Triumphant." Man., p. 19.
The Church of Christ, Scientist, was born of revelation. Its Founder and Leader, Mrs. Eddy, perceived the substance, purpose, and integrity of that Church of which Christ Jesus said, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. 16:18. The Church of Truth's and Love's creating is the divine idea, against which the supposititious evil forces of the carnal mind will not prevail.
God, divine Truth and Love, is forever unfolding—divinely revealing—to human consciousness His supremacy, omnipresence, and omnipotence. This self-revealing activity of Truth and Love is the Christ, which Mrs. Eddy defines in the Glossary of Science and Health as "the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error." Science and Health, p. 583. It was Christ active in her consciousness that led Mrs. Eddy to establish The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist. This Church achieves its healing and saving mission to the extent that the lives of its members bear witness to the activity of the Christ.
