Editorial December 27, 1900 ISSUE

The Branch Churches and Societies

Editor

INQUIRIES continue to come to us as to whether the branch churches and societies are under obligation to follow exactly the order of exercises in the Mother Church at the

Wednesday evening meetings. We have repeatedly heretofore endeavored to point out to the Field the fact that while it is desirable to conform as nearly as may be to the order obtaining in the Mother Church, for the purpose of securing that unity which is so desirable, yet reference must necessarily be had to the local conditions surrounding the branches. In a recent number of the Sentinel we referred to this, and suggested that in places where the attendance was small and the number of testimonies few, the extra time might well be occupied by reading articles and testimonies from our periodicals.

The situation, as we understand it, is this: that, while not departing in any substantial way from the order in the Mother Church, the branches should exercise good judgment and wisdom in the way of making the meetings as helpful and interesting as possible. These meetings are largely for the purpose of informing outsiders and inquirers as to the practical work which Christian Science does in the way of healing sickness, destroying sin, lifting mankind into a higher and better life, and emphasizing, through these practical works, the fact that man is dependent upon spiritual more than upon material conditions for his best welfare. In relating experiences, so we have heretofore suggested, the Scientist should endeavor to think of how his remarks will impress the stranger, who perhaps has heard for the first time anything of what Christian Science is and what it does, so as to avoid unfavorable criticism or cause therefor.

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