Article July 20, 1912 Issue

LECTURES IN BRANCH CHURCHES

HORACE SEELY.

The Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., Article XXXII, Section 4, provide that the "branch churches shall call on the board of lectureship annually for one or more lectures." There are other provisions in the Manual in regard to our lectures which may be studied with advantage to all, including the lecture committees or those in charge of lectures for the branch churches, thus being a help in awakening the field to the great opportunity to heal the sick and sinning offered through this channel.

It is specified that the branch churches shall have one or more lectures annually, and here it may be asked if we, in our respective fields, are doing our duty. Are we utilizing our great opportunity in this particular branch of the work that has been so wisely provided for us by Mrs. Eddy? Every lecture has in it not only the healing of individual cases but the healing of "the multitudes;" and this is evidenced in the localities where lectures are more frequent, by the greater activity and greater progress and growth to the cause of Christian Science, which is so dear to all of us. Is it not an expression of gratitude for this healing truth, and a mark of obedience, to use this great opportunity to the largest possible extent? The writer has attended many lectures, and does not know of a single one where he did not hear of some one being healed or helped, and sometimes there have been many cases of healing.

The earnest desire to express gratitude for what has been provided for us in this way will externalize itself in the increased number of lectures given by the branch churches. In many of the larger places where there are two or more churches, unity of action is brought about by establishing lecture committees from the several churches, which arrange together for the lectures, dates, halls, and other matters pertaining thereto, thus avoiding confusion, duplication of work, etc., and reducing the expense. If it were generally understood that some of the larger places arrange for their lectures at the beginning of the lecture year, as requested by the board of lectureship, the smaller places could arrange to have more lectures, as the expense could be made much less by securing the lecturer they wished when he was in their locality. The Manual hints at unity and reduction of expenses in Article XXXI, Section 3.

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