Article November 18, 1911 Issue

THE PURPOSE OF DEMOCRACY

GRACE B. TOWNSEND.

The thoughtful observer of the times will ask as the question of today, What is the form of church government most consistent with the teaching and practice of Christian Science, and why is it so? An answer to the first question is given by the by-law of The Mother Church which states that "each branch church shall be distinctly democratic in its government" (Article XXIII, Section 10); but it contains no statement of why such should be the form. Respecting our place in the world, our Leader says, "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death" (Science and Health, p. 450). Just so far as we elevate and purify every material situation with which we have to deal, to that degree will we hasten the day when the material structure, whatever it may be, will give place to the spiritual fact. It behooves us, therefore, as thoughtful Christian Scientists, to consider what is the contribution to the world of our church organization?

It is necessary here that we keep clearly in mind the meaning of the word democracy. It is derived from the Greek demos, people, and kratein, to rule, or be strong; hence it is a "government by the people; a system of government in which the sovereign power of the state is vested in the people as a whole, and is exercised directly by them or their elected agents" (Century dictionary). A republic, on the other hand, is "a government in which the executive power is vested in a person or persons chosen directly or indirectly by the body of citizens entitled to vote" (Century dictionary); a government, therefore, in which the people do not directly exercise their strength.

In securing a charter the church becomes legally a corporation, and the form of organization usually convenient for corporations and so adopted by them is similar to that of a republic. It therefore becomes the duty of every Christian Scientist to see to it that the organization of the church is managed along democratic lines. For one thing, he is not to delegate the entire power to an executive body, but to keep the church body strong. In acting from this basis, he uncovers and destroys the mental suggestion which says that personal power gives pleasure and is legitimate; he will cease to desire to see the weaker swallowed up and the ambitious exalted; and he will be watchful not to imitate in system and detail a merely human method of doing business. Thus as he progresses he will begin to realize that the true organization seeks to "construct or modify so as to exhibit or subserve vital processes" (Century dictionary). Let us understand what this vital process in Christian Science must be. It is the continued and continuous realization of man's oneness with the Father and of his inherent power to do perfectly all that comes to him to do. There is but one form of organization known to humanity today which is ideal enough to fill in any sense a demand so lofty. It is that of pure democracy, and thus is the reason for our Leader's choice made clear.

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