Article December 16, 1933 Issue

Item of Interest

The Thanksgiving Day service in The Mother Church, on November 30, gave abundant evidence of ample fruitage in the garden of grateful hearts, well tilled and overflowing. Evidently a larger audience than any heretofore in attendance on such an occasion listened to the beautiful service, whose main feature was the carefully prepared Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly entitled, "Thanksgiving."

The brief time allotted for "testimonies by Christian Scientists, appropriate for the occasion," as provided by Mrs. Eddy in the "Order of Service" (Manual, pp. 123, 124), was more than filled by speakers requested to confine themselves to about one minute each. The combined list of causes for gratitude, however, was long and varied: gratitude for the new Publishing House built during these past few lean years, and fully subscribed by the grateful hearts of Christian Scientists; gratitude for the new Christian Science Hymnal; gratitude for The Christian Science Monitor, a daily blessing; gratitude for church membership and for healing accomplished by the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy. One woman had been healed at a Thanksgiving service some years before. One of the Directors of The Mother Church expressed the joy of many when, in a few words, he described the significance and far-reaching unity of the Christian Science movement, welded together in the great undertaking just now being completed, the necessary and monumental new house in which to publish Christian Science literature.

An officer of The Mother Church expressed gratitude for the great fundamental blessing of a clearer understanding of God, for the ability to see the true and right plan for universal salvation, which includes healing the sick. A new worker on the Monitor was grateful to be a part of the organization our Leader established to carry on her plan. A Canadian was thankful to visit The Mother Church at this particular time. A visitor from England spoke a few words of happiness. A Christian Scientist from Holland was thankful for the recent translation of Mrs. Eddy's book "Retrospection and Introspection" into Dutch. One speaker was grateful for the privilege of subscribing to the Christian Science Sentinel for fifteen years. A man was thankful for living in the twentieth century, because he had gained a deeper understanding of substance. A speaker expressed joy that the Thanksgiving service held in Christian Science churches in the United States had made its way into other countries. A member of the Editorial Board of the Monitor expressed his joy for the good that Christian Science is doing in all parts of the world, and added his thanks for the wise guidance of The Christian Science Board of Directors. A woman was grateful for an understanding heart. Another speaker was grateful for the recognition Mrs. Eddy received as one of the twelve greatest women leaders of the past century in the United States. A speaker was grateful that she—the speaker—was wise enough to accept Christian Science into her life; another for a higher sense of life, in that sickness had been replaced by health, and the wants she had experienced had been replaced by the necessary supply. Another expressed gratitude for the loyalty and faithfulness of the early workers; another for the work of the Christian Science practitioners. One was grateful for the Bible and Science and Health, which healed her fifteen years ago when her life "had about spent itself." Another was grateful for the joys that had entered her life through Christian Science and for the love of all mankind that Mrs. Eddy teaches. A man was grateful when the way opened for him to come across this country from the Pacific Coast to tell in this auditorium what he owes to Christian Science and to its Discoverer and Founder. Another was grateful for the help in business which he had gained, leading him as it did to recognize his fellow man not as someone to take advantage of, but as someone to help toward an understanding of the Christ, Truth. He was grateful for proving the nothingness of fear and self, particularly the latter.