Article September 10, 1904 Issue

The Wednesday Evening Meeting

J. A. H.

While Christian Scientists maintain, and rightly so, that the Master's command to heal the sick is just as binding now as it was when given, it is well to remember that his command to preach the gospel has lost none of its force, and is also just as binding upon his followers to-day as in the past. This command when given, however, had a widely different meaning from that generally attributed to it to-day. Regardless of how others may construe it, the definition accepted by Christian Scientists is, to make public announcement of the good news, or news about God, good. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us as obedient servants, not only to heal the sick but to make public announcement of the good news—news of what Christian Science has done and is doing for us and others.

We may not all have reached the understanding that enables us to heal the sick, but it is surely within the power of those of us who have been healed and reclaimed by Christian Science to testify to these facts. It is our duty as well as our privilege to do this; and in doing so, we are fulfilling our Lord's command to preach the gospel, in a most practical and effective way. Our Wednesday evening testimonial meetings after abundant opportunity to those who are willing to obey the command, and there is no place where a recital of what Christian Science has done for us will accomplish more for our fellow-man than in those meetings. A large majority of those who are students of Christian Science to-day, at first became interested in the subject through the healing of their physical infirmities; and quite a number of those who come to our Wednesday evening meetings for the first time, come because of the need of physical healing and their desire to hear the testimonies of those who have been liberated from the bondage of sickness and sin through the operation of Christian Science.

For the help and encouragement, therefore, of those who are seeking the freedom which this gospel of Love brings to humanity, we should not allow fear nor any other form of error to prevent us from testifying at these meetings. If, in giving our testimonies, we are willing to forget self, and are prompted by love for God and our fellow-man, the result in each instance will be a blessing conferred, not only on others but also upon ourselves. Our Leader says, "A just acknowledgment of Truth, and what it has done for us, is an effectual help. If pride, superstition, or any error, prevents the honest recognition of benefits received, this will be a hindrance to the recovery of the sick and the success of the student" (Science and Health, p. 372). Many of us refrain from testifying, for the reason that we are not fluent speakers, but we are not justified in remaining silent on this account. Persons who come to our meetings seeking proofs of the efficacy of Christian Science, come to hear facts, not speeches; and a simple statement of facts under any circumstance is far more convincing than the most eloquent speech.

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