Our Wednesday Evening Meetings

ALLEN BARNARD DRURY

Are we all grateful enough for the meetings which Mrs. Eddy so wisely provided for in the middle of each week? Are they not opportune for the giving and receiving of blessings in the testimonies of individual experiences and remarks on Christian Science? And do they not confirm what our Leader says on page 206 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that "in the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all"?

These meetings, which are for praise to God, acknowledgement of good, and encouragement, most fittingly provide for an expression of gratitude from each one for that which Christian Science has done or is doing for him. These meetings offer us the right place in which publicly to honor God, "who healeth all thy diseases," to be thankful for Christ Jesus' demonstration of God's power to overcome every material belief and so-called law, to acknowledge with deep gratitude Mrs. Eddy's purity and her clarity of spiritual thinking, which made possible the appearing of God's gift of Christian Science.

No greater inspiration can be found for realizing the nature of the testimony meetings than the words of our revered Leader on pages 148 and 149 of "Miscellaneous Writings," words which will bear much study and a sincere effort to carry out their requirements. She desired that the invitation to these meetings should be as indicated in the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." After quoting these words she said: "Invite all cordially and freely to this banquet of Christian Science, this feast and flow of Soul. Ask them to bring what they possess of love and light to help leaven your loaf and replenish your scanty store."

This is indeed a loving invitation to all, and we should be alert in seeing to it that the belief of error does not cause us to lapse into an apathetic and dreamy state of thought in regard to these meetings. Primarily, they are for the purpose of coming together to share whatever Christian Science has given to the speakers of hope, faith, understanding, and healing. Also, they are for the sharing of these blessings, not through a sense of duty, but from an overflowing sense of gratitude and the desire to express it.

Some may have little, some may have much, to share; but it is the privilege and duty of all to give. Indeed, everybody has something to give, and should be willing to give it; and willing, too, to receive what others have to give. Think what a volume of praise is expressed in the declarations, "I am thankful to God," and, "I am grateful for Christian Science," which are joyously given every Wednesday evening at these meetings throughout the world! The Bible says, "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord." It is through this spiritually mental preparation that our hearts are filled to overflowing with gratitude. Gratitude being a quality of good, it must be expressed. Therefore, we need have no fear but that God will put the right words into our mouths.

These meetings are our meetings. We are responsible for our individual expression of gratitude, and for our own knowing of the truth about them before, during, and after every one of them. So that nothing of good be lost, we must protect these meetings at all times from every phase of mortal belief which would try to enter our thoughts as erroneous, aggressive suggestion. And how better can we protect them than by consecrating some part of each day to prayerful work? Then we shall not miss attending the meetings, and fear will not keep us in our seats when the invitation comes to testify, for we shall remember Paul's admonition, quoted by our Leader (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 24), "Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

These meetings give the visible and audible proofs by which the world may know of Christian Science, and the testimonies of healing coming from grateful hearts mean healing services. So appears constant fruition through obedience to the Master's words, which are found on the cover of all our Leader's writings, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons."

What a wonderful opportunity our Leader has given each one of us to make these Wednesday evening meetings unfold to all the healing, saving, and protecting presence of the Christ! In the words of a hymn:

"In God I find a precious gift
That knows no fear, no feud,
That glows so still, serene and pure:
The gift of gratitude."

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