Article April 22, 1939 Issue

Prayer in Church

JESSICA M. STEINBACH

THE student of Christian Science increasingly values the Manual of The Mother Church. He does not regard its By-Laws as dictatorial "Thou shalt's" and "Thou shalt not's," arbitrarily imposed upon him; he understands them to be wise behests, born of revelation and inspiration. They are guides to help us on our way toward the demonstrable understanding of divine Science. Unwavering obedience thereto is imperative, if one would reach that goal.

One's first study of the By-Laws may not reveal their full import, but faithful, joyous practice of what one understands will blossom in increased spiritual discernment. Thus the true understanding of them dawns upon the human consciousness, unfolding and expanding more and more. This was beautifully illustrated to a young student of Christian Science in the following experience.

She felt that she was being obedient to Article VIII, Section 5, which states, "The prayers in Christian Science churches shall be offered for the congregations collectively and exclusively," because she used the time allotted to silent prayer in praying for the congregation. But there came to her illumined thought a deeper meaning of that By-Law, a meaning so fraught with unselfed love that it transformed church attendance from an experience of going to get something for herself, to one of going to give.

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