Article April 24, 1937 Issue

"Necessary Preparation"

FLORENCE W. SAUNDERS

IN the folder, "Recommendations for Lecture Arrangements," issued each year by The Christian Science Board of Lectureship, we find several paragraphs under Section 4. which bears the heading "Necessary Preparation." It is significant that these paragraphs dealing with the spiritual preparation for the giving of a lecture, should precede the recommendations applicable to the human footsteps designated therein as being also necessary to the successful giving of a Christian Science lecture. Since the preparatory mental work is of paramount importance, it may be pertinent and helpful to consider how this work may best be done.

Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, ordained in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. XXXII, Sects. 2 and 3) that a Christian Science lecture be called for and sponsored by a branch church or society. Christian Scientists must support the lecture in the community where it is delivered, that the good seed fall not on barren ground, or be snatched up by the fowls of the air before it has time to germinate. Therefore, the lecture, given under the auspices of a branch organization, necessarily becomes an activity of the church membership, not alone of a committee—although the latter has an important and definite work to perform.

Usually, the size of a lecture committee depends upon the territory covered by the church organization. If the district is relatively small, the committee generally consists of but few members. If the territory is large, as is the case where the church serves an extended district, or even several adjoining towns, it may be advisable to have many members on a committee But, whether large or small, each member of the lecture committee should do definite mental work, not merely for the specific duties given him to perform, but for the support and fruitage of the lecture as a whole.

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