Items of Interest April 1, 1933 Issue

Items of Interest

A new church or society, as a branch of The Mother Church, comes into existence, on an average, every four or five days. In a city or town where there is already a branch of The Mother Church, a new organization naturally begins its existence to relieve an overflowing attendance in the existing church or to serve an adjoining district not readily accessible by transportation facilities. The nucleus of the new group comes together, having the cooperation and hearty send-off of the church or churches concerned. This procedure is in line with a letter to Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester, England, signed by one of Mrs. Eddy's secretaries and printed in the Christian Science Sentinel of February 19, 1910, the text of which reads:

"Your letter of recent date addressed to Mrs. Eddy has been received and read with interest. On behalf of our Leader, permit me to express to you her loving appreciation of your assurances of loyalty and gratitude, and further to inform you of her pleasure in learning that you have established a new branch in the vineyard whereon is to grow the fruits of healing and regeneration. Second Church of Christ, Scientist, of Manchester, thus starting as the outgrowth of multiplication and not division, is moving forward in accord with the 'eternal mandate of Mind' (Science and Health, p. 520)."

In a few instances, Christian Scientists do not find themselves able to make the demonstration of starting a new organization on the basis of an overflow backed by the co-operation of the existing church or churches and assisted by them. An organizing group, having these circumstances to contend with, does not always fail of recognition from The Mother Church in due season; but it does well to proceed slowly, wisely, and with the utmost loving consideration for brethren who differ from them as to the timeliness or method of their procedure.

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