Dear Christian Scientists,
Imagine yourself sitting next to Emma Easton Newman during the Primary class taught by Mary Baker Eddy in February of 1889. Here is the way Newman described the teacher: "Our Leader's appearance at that time was of a woman many years younger than the recorded number. The hair was still dark, the eyes glowing with the inner fire of spiritual inspiration" (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, p. 93).
What impelled that "inner fire"? This inspired teacher knew the revelation that had come to her would transform the world. There was no doubt. Her conviction was alive with spiritual vision. Yes, there was fire. Might it have been the kind of fire referred to in the Pentecostal experience where Christians gathered "with one accord in one place"? (Acts 2:1.) The evidence is strong that it was. In fact, the teacher said something in this class that still reverberates worldwide with Christian Scientists today. It is reminiscent of that day of Pentecost when "about three thousand souls" were added to the growing church. Newman reminded us of Mrs. Eddy's words, "We, today, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind ..." (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, pp. 279–280).
Was Mrs. Eddy exaggerating? Not at all. She had seen consistent evidence of the wonderful power of divine Mind. And now she appeared to be illustrating what would actually happen if our uniting was truly based on the substance of divine Mind, instead of the coming together of human minds. It isn't so hard to get minds together. It's more demanding to demonstrate the allness and oneness of Mind, God.
The Annual Meeting of 2009 will consider what it means to be of one accord and in one place. There's more to it than the convergence of thousands of mortals, free of disagreements. It is to coexist. Coexistence is to exist at exactly the same time in exactly the same place. To be truly at one is to experience divine consciousness. It is to be in total agreement with God and His Christ. To feel God embracing His idea man, and all creation. As we unite with God on this basis, we'll come closer to having one Mind. And we'll begin to see more evidence of humanity blessed with being truly of one accord in one place.
Please join us, not simply as an observer, but expressive of the one Mind.
Clerk of The Mother Church
Annual Meeting is June 8, 2009, in Boston and on the Web.
For more information about the meeting and related events, please see the Annual Meeting ad in this issue or go to www.churchofchristscientist.org/Annual Meeting.
