Editorial June 17, 1916 Issue

Sowing and Reaping

Archibald McLellan

Perhaps never was the growth of the Christian Science movement in the last three decades more graphically portrayed than at this year's annual meeting, when the new President of The Mother Church in contrast sketched so vividly the first service of this church which he attended, thirty-four years ago—then the only church. One could easily picture that group of earnest students in our Leader's home, listening eagerly to the new-old gospel to whose worldwide promulgation she had consecrated her every effort; and looking on the audience gathered in the magnificent edifice dedicated just a decade ago,typical of an unnumbered host of the church body,—would exclaim, as did Mr. Frye, "What wonders has God wrought through our beloved Leader's devotion to our cause, which she held in mind beyond all other things!"

Only one whose prophetic sense had been quickened by spiritual enlightenment, whose vision was broad enough to span the horizon of the coming years, could have so courageously entered the lists against error as did Mrs. Eddy. Like the shepherd lad of old her declaration of faith was, "I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts;" and it was vouchsafed her to prove that "there is a God in Israel," for the sick were healed with the word of Truth—the divine ever-presence demonstrated. She gives us a hint of the conditions in those early years, when she says, "I saw before me the awful conflict, the Red Sea and the wilderness; but I pressed on through faith in God, trusting Truth, the strong deliverer, to guide me into the land of Christian Science, where fetters fall and the rights of man are fully known and acknowledged" (Science and Health, p. 226).

In this sentence Mrs. Eddy has given us at once the secret of her triumph and the fearful odds against which it was won. Hers was the courage of one who knows of a surety the invincibility of truth and the nothingness of error before it. Day after day and year after year she gave herself to the work to which her hand had been set, the work in which Christian Scientists as her followers are today privileged to share,—the final overcoming of error. Joy and gratitude for the past year's progress in the varied activities of the church of our Leader's founding can but be proportionate to the share each one has had in its accomplishment. If we have healed the sick, if we have held the cup of living water to thirsting lips, we surely have a right to thank God and take courage. The laurel wreath of victory rests only on the brow of him who armed with "the sword of the Spirit" has wrestled with the enemy in the open.

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