Article April 1, 1939 Issue

From the Directors

"Alertness to Duty"

The Christian Science Board Of Directors

As the time for the June admission of members to The Mother Church approaches, one's thought turns naturally to the contemplation of the privileges and duties of church membership. Too often we associate the thought of duty with something irksome to which we yield grudging obedience. This mistaken concept of duty adhered to would rob us of the fruits of obedience, and deprive us of an opportunity to prove ourselves workmen who need not be ashamed. Christian Scientists, alert to their duty, consider it a privilege to discharge their obligations as members of The Mother Church and its branches. They quite properly construe the meaning of duty in its relation to the promotion and extension of Christian Science to be "an obligation," as Webster puts it, "to obey divinely revealed law." This construction applies particularly to those duties which come under the accepted law of the Church, as set forth in the Manual of The Mother Church. All of these are important, but none more so than those contained in Section 6 of Article VIII, in which we are admonished not to be made to forget nor to neglect our duty to God, to our Leader, and to mankind.

It has been made plain by the Master that our duty to God consists in loving Him with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind, and that our duty to mankind is fulfilled by loving our brother as ourselves. Inasmuch as obedience to these commandments furnishes the true incentive for spiritual healing, taught and practiced by Mrs. Eddy, it follows that the observance of them is the first essential in discharging our duty to her and proving ourselves useful in the practice and extension of her teachings. In thus doing we are but emulating her example. Our Leader proved her love for God and man by healing the sick and redeeming the sinner. Moreover, she was ever alert to introduce and explain her teachings to the receptive thought. As beneficiaries of her labors, are we awake to every opportunity to introduce Christian Science to others? Do we realize the importance of pointing out the privilege of church membership, and the advisability of joining not only The Mother Church but one of its branches? When tempted to neglect our duty in this respect, we should stop to consider how our own lives might have been affected had not someone put forth the effort to acquaint us with Mrs. Eddy's teachings, and start us on the one way out of our difficulties. There is still need for this kind of individual effort, and the need will continue until Christian Science is universally understood and demonstrated. Recognizing this, Mrs. Eddy wrote in "No and Yes" (p. 11), "To be appreciated, Science must be understood and conscientiously introduced."

It was as a practical means of aiding in the introduction and promotion of her religion that Mrs. Eddy established The Mother Church, provided for its branches, and authorized membership in both. That her action was the result of divine guidance is evidenced in the expanding influence of the Church and its continued growth in membership. The question is frequently asked: Which should one join first, The Mother Church or one of its branches? The answer is that as nearly as possible both should be joined at the same time. This procedure was common during the early years of the Church, and should today be encouraged by practitioners and others who may have an occasion to discuss the subject of membership with prospective applicants. As an aid in this direction, notices of the dates of admission to membership in The Mother Church should be read from the desk of all branch churches and societies at least once a week for a period of six weeks preceding the final date set by The Christian Science Board of Directors for passing upon applications. Co-operation of this character between The Mother Church and its branches is not only helpful but indispensable to the prosperity of our Cause. Notwithstanding the fact that such steps still seem essential, the primary purpose of the Church is not to promote its numerical growth, but more particulary to encourage spiritual progress on the part of its members and extend its healing ministry. This purpose is accomplished in the degree that there is established in individual consciousness an understanding of the spiritual idea of Church defined by Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583) as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." This ideal Church is "an house not made with hands;" it is the pattern in the mount after which each of us should strive to fashion our own concept of Church.

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