Editorial March 22, 1913 Issue

TEACHER AND STUDENT

Archibald McLellan

To the student of Christian Science who is desirous of gaining a thorough understanding of its fundamental truths, the question of class teaching sooner or later presents itself, and it may be helpful to those whose interest in Christian Science is a comparatively recent one, to know that such teaching had Mrs. Eddy's approval. This is established not only by her own course of procedure in teaching, and in the provisions made for its regulation and perpetuation as a factor in the Christian Science movement, as set forth in Article XXVII of the Church Manual, but by the fact that the last sentence of Section 5 distinctly states that no member of The Mother Church shall advise against it. The establishment of a right relationship between teacher and student in Christian Science is, however, of very great importance, not only to the individuals directly concerned, but also to the Christian Science movement as a whole, and it is because this importance should be recognized by every Christian Scientist that we are complying with the request to republish the following editorial, which appeared in the Sentinel of Oct. 16, 1909:—

Our great Master humbly said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls;" and it is only in this humble and unassuming spirit of the Master, that "self-abnegation by which we lay down all for Truth, or Christ, in our warfare against error" (Science and Health, p. 568), that Christian Science in its truth and purity is being successfully taught. Mrs. Eddy emphasizes this clearly and unmistakably in "Retrospection and Introspection," where she writes (p. 84): "That teacher does most for his students who divests himself most of pride and self, and by reason thereof is able to empty his students' minds of error, that they may be filled with Truth. Thus doing, posterity will call him blessed, and the tired tongue of history be enriched. The less the teacher personally controls other minds, and the more he trusts them to the divine Truth and Love, the better it will be for both teacher and student."

It is not the purpose of class instruction in Christian Science to establish between teacher and pupil any other than a sane and sensible relationship, that which has its basis in a mutual understanding of divine Principle, and which involves no sense of domination on the part of the teacher and no sense of subserviency on the part of the pupil. The duty of the teacher is to impart to the pupil a correct understanding of Christian Science as set forth in its text-book, Science and Health, and it should be the greatest desire of the pupil to receive this correct understanding, and only this. When this duty is performed and this desire is satisfied, the true purpose of class instruction has been accomplished and a basis for a proper relationship has been established.

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