In the "Historical Sketch," which appears on page 17 of the Church Manual, the following occurs: "At a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association, April 12, 1879, on motion of Mrs. Eddy, it was voted,—To organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing." No plainer statement than that could be made as to the raison d'etre of the Church of Christ, Scientist. And the members of this church may always test their work by the extent to which it approximates the standard set by Christ Jesus.

The aim of the Church of Christ, Scientist, as stated above, should ever be before the Christian Scientist. To carry it out organization is necessary; hence, The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and its branch churches and societies throughout the world. The Mother Church has its Manual for direction and guidance; the branches also have the Manual as well as their own by-laws, setting forth, among other things, the manner of election of each church's board of directors or trustees, its Readers, clerk, and treasurer; its committees. To ensure successful work, the membership should strive loyally to abide by the Manual and the by-laws of their branch church.

While the Church Manual and the by-laws of branch churches afford guidance to members and regulate procedure, spiritually mental work is needed—is indeed indispensable—in connection with every department of church work. Consider, for example, the Sunday and Wednesday services, which are of the utmost value to mankind as well as to the members themselves. The whole church membership has a responsibility for them. All should therefore give liberally of their time definitely to realize for these services that God, Truth, being infinite, Truth alone has reality and power; also, that since God is infinite good and evil consequently unreal, no obstructive or destructive thought in reality exists to interfere with the services, keep the sincere seeker for Truth from them, prevent the truth from being apprehended and understandingly declared, hold back the testimonies of healing at testimony meetings, or stifle the harmony and gladness which should animate every student of Christian Science.

Similar protective work should be done by church members to ensure that our Reading Rooms shall bear much fruit. We should remember that mankind is famishing for spiritual truth, and that nothing in reality exists to prevent earnest seekers for Truth finding their way to these rooms to receive from the study of the Bible and our Leader's writings, including Science and Health, the revelation of divine Science which shall comfort, strengthen, and heal them. Not a single department of church work should be neglected. Enlightened prayer alone can ensure the success of this work, which includes our Sunday schools, our lectures, and the distribution of our authorized Christian Science literature. A measure of organization is requisite; but to ensure successful work it must be supported by spiritual understanding, and the application of that understanding to the problems which may present themselves.

Unity among church members is a necessity. It should therefore be striven for; and with the certainty of demonstrating it. How shall this be done? By knowing that God is the Father-Mother of all; that there is but one Mind, and that each of us in reality reflects that Mind, thus expressing the same spiritual qualities. We should be alert to detect the least suggestion of division among ourselves, meeting it with the truth that the law of divine Love perpetually governs the perfect relationship between God and man and between man and man. We should affirm the allness of God, good, declare evil's unreality, and know that, since evil is unreal, no erroneous suggestion, no mesmeric belief of division or disintegration, has any power whatsoever; and, further, that no evil influence exists anywhere, at any time, to prevent the truth being known and declared.

Christian Science churches should be holy places where goodness and love abide. They should be citadels of virtue, strongholds of true manhood and womanhood, places where God's voice is heard and obeyed and the healing truth demonstrated. They should afford constant opportunity for the strong in faith and understanding to encourage and help the less strong, to console the sorrowful, to succor the distressed. They should present unmistakable proof of the power of the knowledge of God, divine Love, to destroy fear and its concomitants.

Naught can impede the work of Christian Science churches when their members, inspired with the Christ-spirit and loving God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, heal the sick and sinful. In the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians Paul says, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." And charity means love.

In "A Word to the Wise" our beloved Leader writes (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 225): "This is a crucial hour, in which the coward and the hypocrite come to the surface to pass off, while the loyal at heart and the worker in the spirit of Truth are rising to the zenith of success,—the 'Well done, good and faithful,' spoken by our Master."

Duncan Sinclair