Editorial January 22, 1927 Issue

Our Duty to Our Leader

Ella W. Hoag

In the Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, under the general topic "Discipline," and the subtopic "Guidance of Members" (Article VIII), we find the following By-law (p. 42): "Alertness to Duty. (Sect. 6.) It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned."

When Mrs. Eddy wrote this By-law she not only presented a rule of protection against the supposititious efforts of animal magnetism—both ignorant and malicious—to hinder spiritual progress, but she also expressed much self-abnegation. For her to know so surely that she was God-ordained that she could point out to her followers the need of remembering their duty to her as the Leader of the Christian Science movement, required deep humility and an unselfed willingness to face, if necessary, even misunderstanding and malignment. She could, however, do this because she knew she was setting forth in her writings God's revelation of Truth to this age. She also knew that her association therewith must be always maintained and protected, or the revelation would be torn to pieces and thus lost to the world.

It is quite impossible to be a clear thinking, right living Christian Scientist without entertaining a correct concept of Mrs. Eddy as the God-appointed messenger of Truth. It is also necessary to comprehend that her writings are God-inspired, if we are to demonstrate their teachings. Except it be understood and accepted that the revelation contained in Mrs. Eddy's writings is due to the direct inspiration of the divine Mind, mankind would be left without the definite God-given explanation of the teachings and works of Christ Jesus, whereby men are to work out their salvation.

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