Editorial June 4, 1910 Issue

BUILDING ARIGHT

Archibald McLellan

It sometimes appears to those who are engaged in slowly and patiently building up a Christian Science church or society in a small city or town, that perhaps more aggressive methods than those ordinarily in use might be employed with advantage, in order to secure more quickly the desired growth in numbers of the church membership. This feeling has at times tempted some to become rather impatient, and to seek for such methods as they hope will bring about more rapid growth. To such as have felt this way in regard to their branch church problem, who, unmindful of the lesson taught by the Master,—"First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear,"—would hasten the reaping of the harvest while the field yet awaits the seed, it may not be out of place to say a few words at this time.

In the past experience has repeatedly proven that genuine and healthy growth of the Christian Science Cause has been due to the fact that this movement is not one of words alone, but rather one of words backed up, substantiated, by works; that its preaching has not been the sum total of what it has to offer to needy humanity, but that it has been ready as well with its practical demonstrations of the healing and saving power of Truth,—the "works" which justified its "faith."

The unnumbered thousands who have identified themselves with the churches and societies of this denomination have not done so because of the pleasant things that have been spoken in regard to Christian Science and Christian Scientists, but because of the appeal made to their intelligence by the healing of the sick and the reformation of the sinful which have come within their personal experience. The one great and important thing, therefore, to be done by Christian Scientists, in order most effectually to help their branch churches to grow and prosper, is to demonstrate the fact that Christian Science is based upon divine Principle; that its teachings can be proved to be true, and that the sick and sinful are healed and saved through the practice of its "divine beatitudes" (Science and Health, p. 446).

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