Article February 5, 1916 Issue

"Absolute Christian Science"

FREDERICK R. RHODES

A question that invariably comes up for consideration in the departmental work of our Sunday school organization is that of mode of procedure in the instruction of the younger classes. Now as the seed sown here will go a long way in determining the quality of the learner, who will eventually graduate into a church-member, it is of the utmost importance that the highest method obtainable should be observed. There is always one channel to which we can safely refer when in doubt as to the correct order or system to be observed, namely, the Manual of The Mother Church. Although one must always remember that these wonderful instructions are not the outcome of human efforts, but of the scientific knowledge of God, and therefore must be interpreted by each from his own individual standpoint, yet we can afford to gather lovingly together in His name (nature) in our prayerful and careful efforts to obtain the highest possible ways and means in our church organization.

There can be no question as to the importance of the work to be done in the Sunday school for all the pupils; therefore we may well ponder very often the words of the great Teacher, "Suffer the little children to come unto me." The provisions of the Manual relative to the Sunday school work are all intended to do this very thing. The Manual tells us (Art. XX, Sect. 3), "The instruction given by the children's teachers must not deviate from the absolute Christian Science contained in their text-book," and in the dictionary we find the word absolute means "complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless."

It would appear from the above interpretations that it is not in accordance with the by-law to introduce into the Sunday school class-rooms, for use in instructing the pupils, any books other than the Bible and the works of our Leader, since these books and these alone can be truthfully said to contain only "absolute Christian Science." One sometimes hears it said that the younger children need something to interest them, but is this suffering the little ones to come to Christ, Truth? and did not our Master tell us that unless we become as little children, that is, childlike, not childish, we cannot gain a real consciousness of harmony? Surely, then, we must be very wide-awake and prevent the human sense of instruction from obscuring or obstructing the unfoldment of truth, and rest in the consciousness, as we read in Science and Health (p. 518), that "Love giveth to the least spiritual idea might, immortality, and goodness, which shine through all as the blossom shines through the bud." If we are ever tempted to think the provisions of the Manual insufficient for the children's needs, we may well pray, as did the disciples, "Increase our faith."

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