Editorial November 28, 1914 Issue

Greetings

Annie M. Knott

Those who are privileged to attend, regularly or frequently, the Wednesday evening meetings in The Mother Church, become familiar with the statement which often accompanies the testimony of a visiting member from one of its numerous branches, "I bring greetings," and then is given the name of the church to which the speaker belongs.

The habit of speaking in this way can easily be traced back to the days of our crowded annual gatherings, when many of those who spoke did so as representatives of some branch church or society. While this does not apply, in an official way, to those who speak at the testimony meetings of The Mother Church, it stands for something of deep significance, namely, the vital relation between this church and its every branch, including the entire membership. To the older members it is a reminder of the time, not so many years back, when the churches were few in number and their membership small, but nevertheless they were conscious of being deeply rooted in Truth and Love, and were relying ever upon the Master's words, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." To Christian Scientists everywhere this rock means the ever-present Christ, the divine Truth which saves from sin, disease, and death in every age and clime, when the power of Truth is understood and acknowledged.

As we listen to the words of our visiting members, it is easy to recall the many loving greetings sent to the early Christian churches by the apostles and other faithful workers, or from one church to another, in some instances reference being made to the church which was in the house of certain brethren. These greetings were not mere formal courtesies, but tell the wonderful story of the awakening of the race to the truth taught and demonstrated by Christ Jesus, and voiced anew in our day by the "scientific statement of being," which declares that "man is not material; he is spiritual" (Science and Health, p. 468).

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