Editorial November 4, 1911 Issue

THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE

Archibald McLellan

Within the next few months, in many of the branch churches, there will be occasion for members to give earnest condideration to the selection of their church officers for the ensuing year, and in some cases they are even now looking about them for available material. That there is in general an earnest, honest desire in all things to act in conformity to the teachings of divine Science, is evidenced by the numerous letters of inquiry bearing on this subject, in its various phases, that have been received at headquarters.

It was, therefore, with a view to eliminating some of the would-be complications through the light thrown upon them by our Leader's clear statements, that her interpretation of the phrase "rotation in office" was republished in the Sentinel for Oct. 14, and "Words for the Wise" and "Afterglow" in the Sentinel for Oct. 21. Our Leader has also given us a by-law which is of special importance in its pertinence to the question in hand. Between this date and the date at which most of these elections will be held, the by-law entitled "A Rule for Motives and Acts" (Article VIII, Section 1, Manual of The Mother Church), will have been read three times at the church services. There are many who will intuitively see the application of this by-law to the election of officers, while others may not, without their attention being called to it. Experience has shown, however, that on no other occasion are Christian Scientists so liable to be tempted to indulge "animosity" or "mere personal attachment" (Manual, p. 40) as they are at these elections.

There is no valid reason why every member of a branch church who is interested in its welfare and that of the cause at large, should not be so well posted about the qualifications of his fellow members for the duties of the various offices, that he can vote intelligently; and in fact it is his duty to post himself for this very purpose. Beyond all this, however, it is his further duty to make this important function of his church-membership a matter of prayer and demonstration, and unless this duty is conscientiously performed there is little hope of securing the best results. The entire teaching of Christian Science is against "personal domination," and the wide-awake Christian Scientist is at all times on guard against "influencing or being influenced erroneously" (Manual, p. 40). As a rule the Manual contains some provision which either directly or indirectly has a bearing on any question which may arise in the conduct of church affairs, and every member of the church should be so familiar with the Manual, through prayerful study of its letter and spirit, that such problems can be intelligently and promptly dealt with.

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