Organization

Clifford P. Smith

A movement , as defined in the Winston Simplified Dictionary, is "an agitation or joint effort to bring about some result." A cause, as defined in this lexicon, is "a militant movement." An organization, as also defined therein, is "a body of persons united for a special purpose." Christian Science, therefore, has a movement, a Cause, and an organization. The Christian Science movement, the Cause of Christian Science, is an active effort by all Christian Scientists to communicate, demonstrate, and propagate the Science of being, the Science of Christianity, the Science of Mind-healing. It is our joint effort to bring about human betterment, progress, and salvation. The Christian Science organization is the church formed by Mary Baker Eddy and her followers for this purpose. It is the Church of Christ, Scientist, including all the many agencies thereof.

A carefully designed organization is essential to the success of any important movement. It is essential to the achievement of any large result in human conditions or public thought. An appropriate organization is indispensable until the desired result is obtained. Many persons acting together can accomplish a purpose for which individual efforts would be futile. Joint action, arranged and orderly, becomes an organization. Essentially, then, an organization is a means by which many persons can act together for a particular purpose, and thus can exert a greater power than they could individually, even more than the sum of their individual efforts. Speaking of the Christian Science movement, Mrs. Eddy once said (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 235), "This movement of thought must push on the ages: it must start the wheels of reason aright, educate the affections to higher resources, and leave Christianity unbiased by the superstitions of a senior period." Such a movement in particular must be organized.

Incident to organization, however, there are dangers. In the case of Christian Science, the dangers are chiefly these: (1) discord connected with democratic government or the lack thereof; (2) failure to estimate different activities according to their spiritual values. The first of these dangers is easily to be seen, and Christian Scientists as a whole have avoided it with a creditable degree of success. It ought to be avoided completely, because it is an evident phase of material and personal sense.

The second of the dangers just mentioned is the more important. Differently stated, it is the danger that many Christian Scientists will be satisfied with helping to attend machinery, and will not fit themselves for and do the individual work of a distinctly spiritual nature on which the Christian Science movement must depend for its success. Speaking of the different functions in the Christian Church, Paul said (I Corinthians 12:28-31), "Covet earnestly the best gifts." We should desire and qualify for the best opportunities.

Christ Jesus began the Christian movement by healing the sick, and his continued service to God for humanity was distinctly spiritual. Mrs. Eddy started the Cause of Christian Science in the same way, and thenceforth she always continued to render a distinctly spiritual service. (See her Message to The Mother Church for 1901 17:11.) Naturally, we should aim and prefer to follow these examples. To the extent that Christian Scientists, individually and jointly, are engaged in rendering spiritual service, to that extent the Cause of Christian Science is prosperous and its success is sure.

One thing that every Christian Scientist can do is to be a good example according to his opportunities. Being a good example as a Christian Scientist in any way is an ethical and spiritual service. It is one of the good works of which the great Teacher spoke when he said (Matthew 5:16), "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." In her first address in The Mother Church (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 110), Mrs. Eddy spoke in similar terms: "Your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind!" In another address, she furnished the gist of this editorial (Miscellaneous Writings 98:16-29); for the substance of this writing is that Christian Scientists must "find strength in union," but this necessarily depends on the quality of our individual lives as attesting active fidelity to divine Principle.

Clifford P. Smith

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Spiritual Reflection is Substance

January 10, 1931

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