Article January 29, 1910 Issue

CHURCH BUILDING

W. WILLARD ROOKS

True church building is the daily unfoldment of Life, Truth, and Love in human consciousness. It is the spiritual awakening or understanding by which mortal thought is divested of its error. The walls of this church are seen to appear wherever impersonal and compassionate love is found softening and removing hatred and its effects; wherever spiritual sense is enlightening away the barrenness of material sense; wherever truth is found uncovering the deception and nothingness of an error; wherever there is responsiveness to divine revelation.

Thus the church is neither material nor finite. It is limited to no particular time and to no particular place. The true church is wholly mental, and is seen only in the fruits of Spirit—in demonstration. This church, or spiritual consciousness, has opened in our time the doors that will never again be closed. Its gates are open by day and by night as a refuge and shelter. This is the "house beautiful," because it is made without hands, eternal in the heavens. Its walls declare man's salvation accomplished. Its pillars signify the beauty and permanency of things immortal. It is impersonal and impartial. It recognizes neither sex nor person. It is the open fount which cries: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters;" ho, every one that is an hungered, come ye to the prepared table!

Into this church the sinner is impelled to come, for thus only can he escape the misery of sinning. Here he beholds man God's child, sinless, harmonious, and free. The diseased and pain-racked sufferer, wishing to escape the misery of his bondage, is impelled to come hither, since here God is revealing Himself in spiritual and perfect manhood. The despairing and hopeless enter the sunshine and radiance of immortality and freedom within its borders. The poor man seeks it out, because here he beholds the infinitude and abundance of divine good, Spirit alone is seen to be substance, and all things spiritually substantial. Thus his inheritance is imperishable and is at hand. The rich man makes it his home, because here he recognizes the folly of hoarding matter; here his affections are enlarged and purified, and he comes to reckon his treasures by his power to demonstrate life, strength, and dominion. The business man seeks it, because here he learns that integrity is the law of justice to all, the golden rule—the only way to an assured success.

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