Article February 21, 1942 Issue

The Importance of Testimony

KATHRYN OTIS BREEDEN

In her writings Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, indicates that one of the essential steps in becoming an earnest and an honest student of this Science is the continual expressing of gratitude, not alone silently, but audibly. Unspoken thanksgiving should not be neglected or undervalued; but the voicing of praise to God is an important factor in the student's spiritual growth. Mrs. Eddy gave added emphasis to this fact by her provision in the Church Manual for Wednesday evening meetings, at which testimonies of healing are given.

These testimony meetings may be likened in their purpose and fruitage to that meeting of Jesus and the five thousand in "the desert place," as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. For their sustenance there were only five loaves of bread and two fishes, and yet, because of the Master's clear realization of divine Love's bounty, he was able to distribute such a plentiful supply that the disciples "took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full."

Do we not sometimes come to our meetings with a meager sense of the presence of God's supply of spiritual ideas, and find as we leave that through joyously partaking of and distributing spiritual truth we may gather up fragments of this blessed communion with God, and are abundantly blessed? Such are the object and the activity of Christian Science testimony meetings. In Ecclesiastes 11:1 we read, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." Following this Scriptural counsel, Christian Scientists should be certain that they enter their churches with thoughts of healing, expecting to bless and to be blessed a hundredfold.

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