Article November 23, 1907 Issue

AMONG THE CHURCHES

with contributions from Jean McCallum, Sarah C. Linscott

Christian Scientists may be interested to learn that under the "Loi du decembre 9, I905: Separation des Eglises et de I'Etat," the legal organization of a Christian Science church in France became possible, as the by-laws of a church organization in France must be recorded at the Prefecture of Police and approved by the proper authorities before the church can have legal existence or a corporate body. It was our desire to comply with all the requirements of our Church Manual governing the organization of branch churches, that we might be in unity with the great body of Christian Science churches the world over, and at the same time we recognized our Christian obligation to yield implicit obedience to the laws of the land. To our great joy we found from a careful study of the statute that we could render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and at the same time render unto God the things that are God's. This meant much to us, for it brought home the lesson that ultimately even human codes are so leavened by Truth as to offer no obstruction to right action.

Our by-laws, which were accepted by the State, are in substance identical with those adopted by a number of branch churches in America. Since the legal organization of the church the attendance has greatly increased, and Easter Sunday we held our first service in the new hall, which seats eight hundred people. April 30 Mr. Bicknell Young lectured to a large and attentive audience. The lecture aroused a much wider interest in the subject of Christian Science and has been productive of an increased attendance at our church services.

There are many in this great city who echo the cry of their fellow-countryman: "If I but knew the road to Damascus where Paul found and talked with Jesus, I would go and walk there." Christian Science will still that cry and show the pathway to God. Christendom cannot measure its debt to the "friend of God" who in this age has made the way so plain that "wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." We pray that First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Paris, may bless our Leader by helping to swell the throng that she has turned unto righteousness

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

After a number of years of constant suffering, resulting...