Article May 20, 1944 Issue

Dispersing the Mist

EDMUND S. W. SMITH

Are not some of us inclined to think that giving a testimony is something that undoubtedly should be done, but preferably by someone other than ourselves? Let us examine the reason for this.

In the Manual of The Mother Church, our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has wisely provided that the latter portion of these meetings be devoted to the giving of testimonies of Christian Science healing and remarks pertaining to that subject. Webster defines "testify" as "to bear witness to." What is there of greater value than the knowledge and understanding of Christian Science, and what greater privilege could one have than to bear witness to the unfoldment of Truth in his own consciousness? From the standpoint of a Christian Scientist this should be his most joyous activity. What then must it mean to the numerous visitors who come to our meetings seeking the solution to some mental or physical problem? Few of us fully realize what good we do by the relating of a simple experience of the healing power of Truth; not only the healing of physical conditions but of sin, sorrow and mental diseases of all kinds.

Gratitude is the underlying quality of all Christian Science testimonies, so that the simple expression of gratitude for benefits received through Christian Science has the power to heal. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead he first expressed his gratitude by saying, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." So we see that gratitude and demonstration go hand in hand. In the Church Manual, under the heading "Daily Prayer" (Art. VIII. Sect. 4). Mrs. Eddy gives us a By-Law which reads as follows: "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to pray each day: 'Thy kingdom come;' let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!" Surely our expression of gratitude to God in the form of a testimony is one means by which His Word does just this. We pray so earnestly that this may be accomplished, but do we always avail ourselves of these opportunities to bring it to pass?

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