China, Poland, South Africa, East Germany, Romania—despite decades of oppression, freedom feels more and more like something that ultimately cannot be put down.
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" was the theme of several meetings in Massachusetts last December. Participants talked about an element of freedom that has often been central in the restructuring of societies along lines more supportive of individual rights—the freedom to practice one's religious convictions.
On one level the meetings were prompted by recent efforts in the United States to prosecute Christian Scientists for their commitment to the practice of Christian healing. Looking squarely at these prosecutions, not in fear or anger but in the light of spiritual sense, participants discussed the underlying issues. They spoke of what develops the capacity to cut through apparently great resistance to spirituality and spiritual healing.
David E. Sleeper, President of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, interviewed Nathan A. Talbot, Manager of Committees on Publication; Brian G. Pennix, General Counsel of The Mother Church; and Virginia S. Harris, Clerk of The Mother Church.
The meeting held in Boston opened with the singing of Hymn 82 from the Christian Science Hymnal. Mr. Sleeper read from the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. The readings were followed by silent prayer, and then the audience was invited to pray aloud together the "Daily Prayer" from the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy. The citations read were as follows:
The Bible
John 12:44
John 15:1, 2, 18, 19, 26
John 16:33
From the writings of Mary Baker Eddy:
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
216:9-10
Miscellaneous Writings
281:12-22
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany
165:16-22
