Editorial December 2, 1905 Issue

"Heal the sick."

Archibald McLellan

We are sometimes asked for advice as to how greater growth of Christian Science may be brought about in communities wherein the work has been established for some considerable time, yet the organized church or society has not advanced in membership as rapidly as have similar organizations in other places. Of course we cannot undertake to give advice in specific cases, but in a general way we should say that in practically every field in which the average progress has not been made, there is need for better healing work, and for more unity of thought and action in maintaining the church, the reading room, and all the denominational activities. Every Christian Scientist should so qualify himself for healing the sick as to be ready for whatever work of this kind may come to him; and when this work is done as it should be, there will be no question about the growth of the local church.

If a church is organized without the way having been prepared by the healing work which inevitably accompanies a thorough understanding of the full gospel of our Master, and if there is no one connected with the church competent or willing to do such work, there should be no great expectation of growth, because such a church has nothing to offer but a belief in healing instead of the "signs following." The question, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" is asked and answered by our Leader on page 495 of Science and Health, and all who will may learn from this book.

The rapid growth of the Christian Science movement in general is due to the fact that Christian Scientists are doing the work that Jesus commended to his followers, and thus they are proving to the world that this Science is demonstrably true. The more of this work that is done, the more rapid will be the growth of our Cause. Our Leader's words on this subject are unmistakable in their demand for healing: "Our Master cast out devils and healed the sick. It should be said of his followers also, that they cast evil out of themselves and others, and heal the sick" (Science and Health, p. 495).

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