"Experiences, testimonies, and remarks"

MARIAN CAMPBELL

A careful study of the definitions of the words above quoted makes it quite plain what sort of talks are expected of all who take part in that portion of the Wednesday evening meetings set aside, as Mrs. Eddy says, for "experiences, testimonies, and remarks on Christian Science" (Church Manual, p. 122). A dictionary defines experience as "actual living through an event;" a synonym for testimony is "proof," and the word "remark" is explained in these words: "The mention of that which deserves attention or notice." The relating, therefore, of some experience through which one has passed in such a way as to prove that the healing was brought about through the application of the teachings of Christian Science, but eliminating all unnecessary details, would conform to the spirit of this provision.

There are of course many more definitions given for each of these words, but in none of them do we find reason for repeating entire articles from the Church Manual or any of Mrs. Eddy's works, although the quoting of a sentence or two from them or from the Bible, to illustrate a point, may prove very helpful. Of course each article, whether long or short, of our Leader's writings, is teeming with healing power, but it is not usually through hearing it repeated or through the casual reading of it that the full import of any given article is gained; but through earnest, quiet study Truth unfolds to us and blesses us.

While the Wednesday evening meetings are beneficial to all who attend, yet they are primarily for the stranger within our gates, who is perhaps in need of physical or mental healing. While he might agree to the beauty of some lengthy passage from Mrs. Eddy's books, what he wants to hear is testimony of living witnesses who have proved the practicability of applying these statements from the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" to their everyday lives and have been made happier and healthier thereby.

In the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 24), Mrs. Eddy says, "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important." Is it not reasonable to suppose that one seeking relief, who has been led to visit a Wednesday evening meeting in a Christian Science church, will be far more encouraged by hearing those present give concise accounts of physical healings, of the overcoming of sorrow and hate, of being made better and happier,—because through the study of Christian Science they have learned that the promises and statements in the Bible are true and apply to people and conditions to-day just as surely as they did centuries ago,—than he would be, should he hear long quotations, even though these quotations are followed by the statement that they are being given with the hope that they will bring healing to the hearers as they did to the one repeating them.

After the inquirer has heard testimonies of healing he may go to a Christian Science reading room and there read and study for himself from the literature such articles as are most enlightening to him; for what is especially helpful to one person in overcoming a discordant condition may not heal this same condition in another, since some entirely different statement of the truth may be the one to bring conviction to him.

Let us in our Wednesday evening meetings give "experiences, testimonies, and remarks on Christian Science" which will show to the visitor that because of our better understanding of the Bible, gained through studying it in the light of Christian Science, there has come into our lives more of joy, health, and harmony. If we do this it is almost sure to follow that the stranger will investigate the source from which our good has come, and he will in turn be telling others how he has been helped. In Proverbs we read, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

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