Article July 11, 1942 Issue

Church Building

ARTHUR PERCY BUBB

"Our church is built on the divine Principle, Love." So writes Mary Baker Eddy on page 35 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Thus Christian Science teaches that the foundation on which the Church of Christ, Scientist, is built is holy ground. This holy ground is not to be found in matter or mortal mind, but in Spirit, divine Principle. It is, then, the loving thought, the kindly act, which represents the true Church, defined by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health (p. 583) as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." This real Church must surely be built in our hearts, in loving, kind, honest, spiritual thoughts.

Mrs. Eddy further defines "Church" (ibid.) as "that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." It is recorded in I Kings that Solomon sent a message to King Hiram, saying, "Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet." There are always wars at hand to hinder the demonstration of church building, not necessarily armed conflict, but often misunderstandings, petty jealouies, or maybe some criticism, as unkind as it is untrue. That the Golden Rule, obeyed, stills strife must be proved universally.

Whatever we admit into consciousness that is unlike God, good, retards our progress Spiritward and causes our right concept of Church to languish. Church members are taking right steps towards church building when they support one another and uphold their Readers and all church officers, remembering that Love, when lived by each individual member, is the foundation of the Church of Christ, Scientist. The means by which a Christian Science church edifice is built is primarily the spiritual understanding, the uplifting of the Christ in individual consciousness. It is the healing activity of Christian Science, based on Love, which is building our branch churches.

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