Editorial January 29, 1938 Issue

Spontaneous Giving

Duncan Sinclair

There are few more grateful people than Christian Scientists. For what are they grateful? For Christian Science, whose revelation of Truth has brought to them spiritual riches, against which the things of the world weigh as nothing. The understanding of God as infinite and unchangeable good which it has given them, has shown them the unreal nature of evil, including sin, disease, suffering, sorrow, and death, and the result has been better health and a greater measure of happiness. With the Psalmist they can joyfully say (Psalms 103:2, 5), "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ... who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

It is gratitude for what Christian Science has done for them that causes Christian Scientists to desire to become members of The Mother Church, or of one of its branch churches, or of both, in order that they may identify themselves more closely with the organization which, through its activities, was instrumental in bringing the healing truth to them. It is right that they should so identify themselves. But merely to become a member of a Christian Science church is not of itself sufficient. Church membership should signify far more than that; it should mean active support of all the activities or agencies of our movement. It were well that those who apply for church membership should recognize and consider the obligations, as well as the privileges, which membership entails.

What, more particularly, does support of our church activities include? It embraces support of all church offices, our Sunday schools, our Reading Rooms, our lecture and Committee on Publication work, our charitable institutions or Sanatoriums, our authorized literature, including the periodicals. It also includes the support necessary for the upkeep of the buildings in which these activities are housed.

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