Article December 6, 1924 Issue

Growth through Obedience

EUGENE P. COLLINS

Material sense defines growth as an accretion of either material elements of material knowledge. Quite separate and apart from this mortal testimony is the spiritual sense and signification of growth. In "Miscellaneous Writings" the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, has recorded some most helpful thoughts relative to growth. One of these statements reads (p. 206), "Growth is governed by intelligence; by the active, all-wise, law-creating, law-disciplining, law-abiding Principle, God." And on page 233 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our Leader, in speaking of the daily demand upon us to follow the Master's example in the destruction of sin, sickness, and death, tells us, "This is an element of progress, and progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil."

Progress, or growth, is God's law. Think of that! It is the law—God's law—that each of us can and shall progress in the unfoldment and demonstration of spiritual good in the exact degree of our obedience to that law. How uplifting and encouraging it is to know that progress, and not retrogression, reaction, or stagnation, is law! We are told also that God's law requires only what we are able to fulfill. But this law does require that we live and demonstrate our very highest sense of good at each stage of progress.

Step by step, as the unfoldment of spiritual good took place in her consciousness, Mrs. Eddy established the Church of Christ, Scientist. This church, known as The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, includes within its broad channels all the activities constituting the Christian Science movement, through which the true knowledge of Christian Science is given to mankind. After establishing her church, our Leader found that it would be necessary to have a clearly defined form of government, neither arbitrary nor dictatorial, but essentially simple, direct, and scientific. She therefore proceeded to establish Rules and By-laws to which she herself rendered the fullest obedience, and rightfully expected the same degree of obedience from her followers. These did not all originate at once; but as the occasion for each arose, it was established. To-day these Rules and By-laws are included in what is known as the Manual of The Mother Church, whose provisions are ample to meet every need of our organization, until God's kingdom shall be fully demonstrated here on earth.

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