Article February 6, 1932 Issue

Gentle Reminders

MARGARET J. SINCLAIR

Members of The Mother Church have sufficient reminders of their duties as such. With wonderful foresight Mrs. Eddy has made definite provision for this. For instance, on the first Sunday of every month "A Rule for Motives and Acts," found in the Manual of The Mother Church under the heading "GUIDANCE OF MEMBERS" (Art. VIII, Sect. 1), is read from the desk as part of the services. It may be noted that the little word "daily" occurs in this Rule, which reads, in part, as follows: "The members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously." It is undoubtedly helping towards healing inharmonious conditions in church, home, business, and national activities, as prayerful thought is being given to this Rule, and government by divine Mind alone is proportionately becoming evident.

Twice a year, at the Communion services in branch churches, the Tenets of The Mother Church are read by the First Reader. These Tenets are subscribed to by all uniting with a Christian Science church. It is highly important that they be considered and understood. They are all helpful and instructive; but perhaps special attention may be called to the sixth tenet, to which prayerful thought should be given daily and which reads (ibid., p. 16), "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."

Obedience to these demands leads to spiritual discernment and understanding, enabling us to obey intelligently other Rules in the Manual. Careful study of this tenet, for instance, would surely reveal ways of obeying Section 6 of Article VIII of the Manual, which bids each member "defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion." And surely we are showing mercy to the stranger at our Wednesday evening testimony meetings when we obey the By-Law (Art. VIII, Sect. 24) which directs that our testimony "shall not include a description of symptoms or of suffering." Strangers have come seeking Truth; they have already heard far too much about error, and are listening intently for some comforting, healing thought that will encourage them to turn to God, and to be led to seek some understanding of the healing truth. Let us not disappoint them.

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