Article July 24, 1909 Issue

All Christendom will agree that the object of the rite...

Miss Ida Hodnett

Montgomery (Ala.) Times

All Christendom will agree that the object of the rite known as the Lord's supper is to bring men into closer touch with God, thereby lifting thought and life into a higher, purer atmosphere, resulting in nobler dealing and action than before. For this reason the rite is called the holy communion. Just here I will say that while a stated season for the public observance of communion is arranged in all the branch churches of the Christian Science denomination, the whole trend of the Christian Science religion is to establish in its adherents the mental habit of unceasing communion with infinite Mind—God. This is dwelling "in the secret place of the most High" (see the 91st Psalm), and the habit is declared by the psalmist to result in positive protection and safety even in the midst of the dire dangers of material life.

The form of the public observance of communion in the Christian Science church is simple and reverent. It takes place after the regular service on the appointed Sunday, as is usual in other Christian churches. The congregation is invited by the First Reader to kneel in silent communion, during which period, by casting out the persistent errors of the human mind, thought is lifted to a realization of God and His Christ. This period is closed by repeating the Lord's Prayer in unison, the words being those given by Christ Jesus in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, and those who participate endeavor to realize the meaning of this beautiful prayer.

That this form of communion is an aid in bringing them to partake of the Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," as the apostle Paul enjoined, Christian Scientists are fully assured by the purifying influence which comes into their own lives. Better aims and motives, and the ability to put those aims into practical operation, is a result of the Christian Science endeavor to eat of the bread of Truth and drink of the wine of Love. Christian Scientists are grateful for all the help that has enabled them to be better men and women than in previous times, but they do not boast nor think themselves better than others. They are especially grateful for a clearer comprehension of the Scriptures and a greater love for reading them than they once had.

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