Editorial September 23, 1922 Issue

Church Building

Ella W. Hoag

EVERY true Christian Scientist is intensely interested in church building. The very mention of the subject awakens a responsive chord, which sings itself in hopeful desire for progress along every right line of endeavor. It means to him an assurance of advancement and fruition. There immediately opens to him a vista of Christian Science established and multitudes redeemed from sin and disease. He sees the possibility of God's kingdom come on earth, His will done, the brotherhood of man realized, and discord and error dissolved into their native nothingness. Many a time he contemplates the definition our Leader has given in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583): "CHURCH. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle;" and his prayers ascend that his understanding of this may be so perfect that he shall express it here and now. And then, he wonders when he seems to fall so far short of its demonstration!

But has he not forgotten that the definition does not end there? Hear what it says further: "The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." Here is the method of building defined so clearly that "wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." Here is the method for each individual member to follow in his own individual living. "The dormant understanding" of each one must be roused "from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science," until each member is found "casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." Thus, and thus only, will our churches rise so that the world will feel the power of Truth demonstrated and "the structure of Truth and Love" be revealed to a waiting world.

And how does this apply to the erection of Christian Science church edifices? Since there is nothing material, but all is in the final analysis mental, the Christian Scientist knows that when the membership of a church has been led of God, divine Mind, to see that the erection of a temple wherein God may be worshiped is a necessity, he also knows that this can be done properly only as the rule of Christian Science is obeyed, and every thought in connection therewith is brought into obedience to Christ, Truth. Here is afforded a glorious opportunity for spiritual growth and for putting into practice the definition of Church as previously quoted. Here is where students of Christian Science may take so many steps forward in Christianly scientific thinking and living that by the time their church edifice is completed and dedicated they need not think it strange if the edifice is not large enough to accommodate the hungering hearts who come to be fed with the bread of Life, which that church membership has proved so valuable, because so demonstrable.

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