The founding of the metaphysical system of Christianity began when Mrs. Eddy discovered the Science of Christ, the divine law which Christ Jesus demonstrated in his healing works. The founding of Christian Science continued as Mrs. Eddy healed her first patients, taught her first pupils, and wrote Science and Health. In the years since, many have been restored to health and rescued from despair through the system she founded. This fruitage bears convincing witness that establishing Christianity as a systematic Science has not made its Christian practice pedantic or abstract. Rather, because this system is based on the same fixed, immutable Principle that based Christ Jesus' ministry—and because it heals through the spirit and action of Christ, Truth—it is founded on Love and so is fundamentally liberating and compassionate.
The entire system of divine Mind-healing that Mrs. Eddy established embraces the Church of Christ, Scientist, together with all of its worship, educational, remedial, and administrative services. See Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 382:12-31. The whole system, which she instituted through divine inspiration and provided for in the Manual of The Mother Church, protects and supports the healing method of Christian Science and its application in practice. To suppose that one part of this system could function with total autonomy and still function effectively would be comparable in a way to supposing that good works could be accomplished without love behind them. Effective healing practice of Christian Science serves the Church. And church work can't be effective unless it involves consecrated application of the healing method of metaphysical Science to whatever assignment one undertakes.
Dependable metaphysical healing cannot be wrested away from the spirit and letter of the rules for its practice contained in Science and Health, the textbook of Christian Science. Science and Health explains the entire metaphysical method of treatment. And the healing Science in its pages fully opens to the learner through the instruction afforded by class teaching, See Science and Health 493:11-16. authorized in the Manual.
