Article December 10, 1910 Issue

TESTIMONY

NELLIE B. MACE

Sufficient advice concerning the Wednesday evening service in Christian Science churches has been given to the Field through our publications, to have brought about ere now a well-nigh faultless testimony meeting, had this advice been heeded. If the purpose of the Wednesday evening service and its implied preparation were fully appreciated, there would never be an oppressive silence, but the hour would be "vocal with praise." In the church Manual (Art. VIII., Sect. 24) our Leader has said: "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases.' " The apostle John says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." And David exclaimed, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."

Nowhere in the Scripture or in our Leader's works are we bidden to speak of the manifold blessings which come through the understanding of truth, except for the purpose of praising God in grateful remembrance of His benefits and attracting our fellow-mortals to the contemplation of spiritual good. The wisdom which planned these meetings contained no intimation that they were designed especially for expressions from the favored few who have been trained in rhetorical elegance, or that those only should speak who are advanced in the understanding of Christian Science. Nor is there any necessity for an attempt to expound the teachings of Christian Science here. The work of elucidating the Principle and practice of Christian Science is incumbent on the text-book and properly authorized teachers before private classes. Only the pure thought of gratitude for Life, Truth, and Love, and their innumerable and constant manifestations to "the children of men," together with the loving desire to persuade others to investigate Christian Science, should impel us to utterance. The least thought of selfish desire for prominence or self-aggrandizement mars the testimony and prevents the pure praise which can be adorned only with humility, love, and fearless confidence that God, the giver of all good, has imparted to the consciousness which acknowledges Him, the ability to reflect Him in words so fitly spoken that, as Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 183), "if he open his mouth it shall be filled—not by reason of the schools, or learning, but by the natural ability, that reflection already has bestowed on him, to give utterance to Truth."

It sometimes happens that a testimony perfectly expressed is no more convincing to the outsider than some broken, ungrammatical voicing of gratitude. This results from the fact that qualities of mind which reflect God are always effective. Gratitude, humbleness of mind, and love are acceptable, and carry conviction to sincere seekers of Truth. The effectiveness of these qualities, which can declare "I know that my redeemer liveth," cannot be hindered by a faulty use of words. Ignorance of the proper use of language is not commendable, however. It is one of the mortal limitations which should be overcome, and in our progressive modern times, with its many facilities for home study, it is possible and praiseworthy for all to improve themselves in this direction. But above the belief of limitation or the belief of educated ability is the important point that the purpose of testimony is to praise God,—to call attention to Him "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." Each one should therefore strive to free his thoughts from self, in its various forms of fear, vanity, love of applause and prominence, or timidity and self-distrust, until no obstruction remains to hinder the pure voice of praise.

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