Editorial February 3, 1923 Issue

"Prayer in Church"

Ella W. Hoag

IN the Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist (p. 42), there is a very simple, but deeply significant By-law, entitled "Prayer in Church," which reads, "The prayers in Christian Science churches shall be offered for the congregations collectively and exclusively." Although the wording of this By-law is quite definite and self-explanatory, Christian Scientists do not always appear to grasp its meaning. While it is not the custom of Christian Scientists to interpret for others the By-laws in their Church Manual, it is sometimes well to consider them in a general way, and thus find what light divine intelligence casts upon the method of interpretation which each individual may apply for himself.

For instance: it is a notable fact that this By-law occurs under the general caption of "Discipline." Immediately the question presents itself: What has discipline to do with it? Surely neither right prayers, nor the churches in which they are offered, need discipline. Then it can here only refer in some way to the ones offering the prayers. Now self is the only thing which can ever seem to shut out spiritual light, and evidently that alone needs to be brought under subjection. Human belief is very apt to pray thoughtlessly for what it wants, and a natural human tendency when approaching a Christian Science church service might easily be to imagine that here would be a fine opportunity to get close to God and so win a quick answer to all the personal desires or even to the concepts of good which it would wish to have realized. But the By-law says, "The prayers in Christian Science churches shall be offered for the congregations collectively and exclusively."

We are surely beginning to see that here is ample opportunity for self-discipline. No selfish, personal problem is to be considered; no human purpose or desire is to enter those holy doors; no false sense of responsibility, for the way the services are carried on or for those who have that work in charge, is to be indulged; no prayer for one or another here or there; instead, the prayers are to be "for the congregations collectively and exclusively," where no one can be left out,—but where perfect unity must prevail. Then what earnest preparation of thought should precede attendance at the services where these prayers are to be presented.

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