Article March 18, 1911 Issue

GIVING OUR TESTIMONIES

ERNEST C. MOSES.

When Mrs. Eddy added Section 24 of Article VIII. to our Church Manual, in which the statement is made that "testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important," she placed the seal of particular consequence on the voicing or writing of evidence concerning Christian Science practice. The giving of testimony at our Wednesday evening meetings is therefore an act worthy of careful consideration. It is clearly evident that the import of the by-law is to make every testimony a means of glorifying God, the Principle of Christian Science; an opportunity whereby to extend to both regular attendants and visitors a loving encouragement to know that all the ills of the human mind and the flesh can be dispelled by light of Truth as presented in this Science.

Because this is the object of presenting testimonies at our mid-week meetings, every grateful beneficiary of Christian Science comes to the meeting with a heart overflowing with good will, and desiring to be instrumental in making the occasion a means of inspiration for every one present. The earnest student therefore brings to the assemblage a hospitable mentality, in meekness hoping above all else that omnipresent Love may accomplish its healing work then and there through reflection; and these desirable results should be accomplished spontaneously and naturally, without labored effort on the part of each conscientious student present. A constant realization of the presence and power of divine Love, with a tender, compassionate feeling for human needs, will surely do the work, and many will leave the meeting assured of God's goodness and the verity of Christian Science.

With due regard for the dignity of the occasion, the true Christian Scientist will carefully avoid the use of terms which, while they are necessary to the textual statements contained in Science and Health, are often misused when woven into the phrasing of a public testimony. For instance, the words "claim" and "belief" are used in the printed literature of Christian Science in many necessary connections wherein their significance is often explained. But in public speaking the use of these terms in connection with the name of a disease or discord is undesirable, because in a mixed audience such terms sound bizarre and peculiar. Such unusual designations have a tendency to give the impression to visitors of all degrees of culture that Christian Scientists are erratic or "cranky" in their methods of speech.

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GIVING OUR TESTIMONIES

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