Article December 12, 1931 Issue

Unity in Church Building

VIVIAN BURNETT

The hired hall in which a band of workers in Christian Science had been holding services scarcely expressed, in its exterior and location, the harmony that any Christian Science activity has a right to claim. Love's reward for faithfulness and obedience had, however, come to the group in many ways. Within a short time of the formation of the church the call to look forward to its greater unfoldment had been heard, and as the result a building plot had been selected. That this had been obedience and in accordance with Principle was beautifully evidenced by the fact that nearly every time a payment was due more than enough was available to meet it. This demonstration helped everyone to gain a clearer understanding of the spiritual nature of true supply.

Now the land was all paid for. There was a good balance in the building fund at the bank. The regular attendance at services was showing a splendid increase. The time had manifestly come when the question, "Shall we start our building?" should have definite, but unhurried consideration. Some members pointed to the fact that the present quarters were not yet actually outgrown, and that services were being carried on harmoniously, even though the surroundings did not express much beauty. Others emphasized the fact that a new and beautiful building would attract many who would not attend service held in such a hall as the one occupied at that time. The danger of being found asleep when needed for God's service—as were the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane—had to be guarded against in one direction. In the other direction, there was the danger of yielding to the personal desire to see quickly rise an edifice satisfactory to human pride.

With the thought held strongly in consciousness that man "is but the humble servant of the restful Mind" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 119) these phases of the question were brought into full light at church meetings, recognized for what they were, and thus put out of the way. A sense of quiet purpose pervaded these deliberations—a feeling of security, based on the knowledge that, since "underneath are the everlasting arms," God would reveal to the group of workers the correct moment to go forward. Mrs. Eddy's definition of "Church" as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle" (ibid., p. 583), had by this time become actively established in the consciousness of the individual members. Then the thought came forward, to be accepted by the entire membership, that only through pure desire, untainted by self in any way, to express the truths of Christian Science in a more helpful, loving, and harmonious way could the next step be taken under divine protection.

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