Article October 5, 1929 Issue

Preparatory and Protective Work for Associations

HERSCHEL P. NUNN

"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," said Christ Jesus. The convening annually of the members of Students' Associations is surely a gathering together in Christ's name, according to God's plan as revealed to His willing servant, Mary Baker Eddy, since it is provided for in the Manual of The Mother Church. Thus convened, we find God's presence with us on what may be veritable Pentecostal days.

This yearly meeting was given to us by our Leader as a means whereby we might grow in the understanding of Truth. Teacher and students gather together to partake of the heavenly manna fed them by the Father. Thought must be thoroughly awake, fully prepared to grapple with new presentations of Truth in its application to daily problems. Our preparatory work, then, should include such protective work as will nullify inattention, apathy, drowsiness, lack of receptivity or retentiveness. The prayer that closes the door to these phases of mortal belief and opens wide the door to His Word is the unselfed prayer of the humble heart. All who would seek to enter should be there to give—the teacher of his treasure of unfoldment during the year, the students of their prepared receptive thought, their cooperation and obedience, their love for and loyalty to the Cause of Christian Science.

Great things are demanded of this day; great things should be expected of it. It has come about through prayer, such prayer as that of Solomon, "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people." The prayer of sincere desire to receive in order to give is the prayer of Cornelius and of Peter, the one reaching out for a knowledge of God, the other waiting to be shown the way to the receptive thought awaiting His message. It brought not only Peter and Cornelius together, but others also who were ready to receive the truth, so that on all was poured out "the gift of the Holy Ghost." It is for this outpouring we assemble in our Association Meetings annually. It is to drink deep of the water of Life, that we may be spiritually refreshed and invigorated for the tasks of the ensuing year.

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