Article August 26, 1944 Issue

Benefits of Church Membership

The Christian Science Board of Directors

Twice a year The Mother Church admits new members. They come from many parts of the world, and from varied walks of life. To quote words which appear on the membership application blank, they are "Christianly qualified and can enter into full fellowship with the Tenets and Rules" of the Church. The branch churches and societies, too, admit new members at stated times. Sometimes membership in The Mother Church is sought before the applicant unites with a local branch; more often, branch membership precedes membership in The Mother Church. There need be no long interval between these two progressive steps; they may even be taken at the same time.

Church membership is a privilege to which every Christian Scientist is lovingly called. To attain it marks a forward step in spiritual preparedness. To prize it is to awaken to measureless opportunities for gracious growth in Christian character and healing power. In church membership Christian Scientists are humbly uniting in support of the mightiest demonstration of spiritual strength and universal brotherhood which the world has ever witnessed.

"Freely ye have received, freely give," was our Master's command to the twelve disciples whom he sent out to heal sickness and sin. In the same spirit of grateful obedience. Christian Scientists respond to the invitation to become church members. They recall that their first healing through Christian Science, their first acquaintance with the comforting ministry of the Christ, Truth, came about through one of the authorized activities of the church which Mary Baker Eddy founded. They perceive that through their own willing service and consecration to our Leader's teachings others, too, will in turn be healed and blessed.

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