Article December 25, 1948 Issue

GETTING ACQUAINTED

LOUISE EVANS HANSCHKE

The longing for happy companionship is doubtless as old as the human race. Such a desire is normal and natural, but it often goes unsatisfied because companionship is sought in the wrong direction. Long ago one of the would-be comforters of Job pointed the way to the finding of perfect companionship in these words (Job 22:21): "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee." In spite of this direction, we sometimes hear the remark that so and so has no one now but God, implying this to be a desolate state indeed!

Those who turn to Christian Science for healing, comfort, or enlightenment sometimes miss the social contacts provided by their former church affiliation. They may feel that their newly found religion makes too little provision for the need of knowing one another better through such means as church suppers, parties for charity, or festivities at Christmas and Easter.

Right here we see the wisdom and farsightedness of our great Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in definitely excluding from the church, as an organization, these human ways and means, even to the extent of forbidding in the United States any and all Easter observances (Manual of The Mother Church, Art. XVII. Sect. 2). Well she knew that the divine purpose of Church —that of presenting the proofs of Christ-healing to the world—would gradually be lost sight of if social get-togethers were provided for.

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