Editorial September 30, 1944 Issue

Would You Be a Practitioner?

John Randall Dunn

A practitioner, of course, is one who practices. A mathematician is one who practices mathematics. A Christian Scientist is one who practices, who strives to live, the great truths of his religion. Thus everyone who has touched the hem of the healing message of Christian Science should consider himself, in the broadest sense of the word, a practitioner of Christian Science, and therefore should feel that he is about his Father's business.

Suppose a young student of Christian Science, one who is not a recognized and listed practitioner in The Christian Science Journal, is asked to heal a sick friend. Should that student decline to offer "a cup of cold water ... in the name of a disciple," to use the Master's words, because he or she is not an advertised worker in the movement? Certainly not. If to the best of his ability the student has been putting into practice the truths he has learned, he is a practicing Christian Scientist, and as such should happily and confidently respond to an appeal for aid.

Many older Christian Scientists can look back on extraordinary healing experiences in the early days of their study; and who has not heard of the beautiful work of children, whose simple, loving reliance on Truth has literally moved mountains of error? In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 457) Mary Baker Eddy has written: "Christian Science is not an exception to the general rule, that there is no excellence without labor in a direct line. One cannot scatter his fire, and at the same time hit the mark. To pursue other vocations and advance rapidly in the demonstration of this Science, is not possible." A vocation is a calling; and here the beloved Leader of the Christian Science movement indicates in unmistakable language that everyone who names the name of Christian Science must hear and heed the Master's call to become a fisher of men, to preach and to practice the truth which will make men free.

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