Editorial February 1, 1913 Issue

"FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS."

Archibald McLellan

We read in the gospels that when Jesus chose those who were to carry on the work of preaching and healing which he was about to inaugurate, they forsook all to follow him, and throughout the time he was with them we find him impressing upon them, again and again, the necessity for faithfulness in their high calling, even to that sorrowful rebuke to Peter, "Couldest not thou watch one hour? Every Christian Scientist is in a certain sense called to the healing work, and those who have forsaken all to follow the Master's calling, who have consecrated their time and endeavor to the carrying on of this work, are doubtless sensible of its sacredness and importance, and yet a word as to the special responsibility incurred by those who are publicly known as practitioners, a reminder of the requirements attaching to this office, may not be amiss.

Occasionally—we might almost say frequently—complaints are received by the Christian Science Publishing Society that, notwithstanding the announcement which appears regularly in the Journal in connection with the practitioners' cards, it is sometimes necessary for a person needing immediate help to call upon several practitioners before finding one ready to respond to his need. The announcement referred to reads as follows: "It is expected that practitioners will be found regularly at the addresses published in their cards," and the object of this announcement is to impress upon practitioners the need for regularity in their work, and especially that, having made known their willingness to help those in need of Christian Science treatment, they should hold themselves in readiness for this work during the time specified.

It would of course be unreasonable to expect a practitioner always to be at home or at his office, because it is necessary for him to go see those who are unable to call upon him; but even this duty should not be allowed to interfere, except in emergencies, with the keeping of the office hours specified in the practitioner's card in the Journal. Should such emergencies arise, there should be no great difficulty in arranging with some competent person to respond to calls which may come in the absence of the practitioner, either by having some one present to give treatments, or at least to refer callers to some other practitioner with whom arrangements have previously been made. When the practitioner is to be absent a whole day or several days, an arrangement of this kind would seem to be absolutely necessary.

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