Article May 23, 1908 Issue

THE LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCHES

AUREL BEACH.

When reports of the good work done in the large city churches are read by the members of the little country churches, a feeling of thankfulness comes that so much is being accomplished, coupled with the wish that they themselves could have a part in it. The work done by each of these little churches seems too small to report, just as many of the demonstrations of Christian Scientists seem too small to mention, yet each one, however small, proves an understanding of divine Principle, Love. One of these little churches has only a very small number of members who live in the village where the services are held, the larger number coming from farms miles away. Sometimes the Readers are a farmer and his wife, who during the busy season must rise very early in the morning to give the necessary study to the Lesson-Sermon before beginning the work of the day. They seldom have the opportunity of attending services in the larger churches, and are thankful for the explicit directions given in the Manual of The Mother Church for making these services uniform in all the branch churches.

The Wednesday evening meetings must be supported largely by the faithful few who live in the village, who listen attentively to the reading from the Bible and Science and Health, and often testify to the practical help received from these readings. A testimony lately given told of a mother and six small children who were alone on a farm when a violent wind-storm came up, overturning some of the farm buildings and threatening to destroy the house. The mother said, "God is not in the cyclone, and it has no power to harm us," and one of the little boys suggested that they study the Lesson. So they got out the books, and by the time they had studied two sections the storm had become less violent, and when they had studied two more the storm had ceased. When the father came home from a neighbor's he was happy to find his family unharmed. They had realized God's presence, even in the midst of the tempest, and dwelt in safety. A stranger is a more welcome guest at these little Wednesday night meetings, where one is seldom seen, than in the large meetings, where there are usually so many; and a word of encouragement or a helpful testimony from such an one is prized very highly.

The Reading Room must also be cared for by these same faithful few, who cannot realize that their effort in this direction is bringing forth at present much fruit, but the work is done in obedience to our Leader's instructions, and in following the rules for keeping the Reading Room open and supplied with literature, good must surely come. One little country church at its July business meeting listened to a report from the Reading Room committee which compared very favorably in proportion with those from the larger churches. When the young people leave their country homes for work in the cities, their names are missed much from the little church roll at home, though they may not seem to add much to the larger one in which they are received; but these same little churches send out many such rootlets that help to support the mighty fruit-bearers that are known and recognized as doing so much good in the world.

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