Article June 21, 1947 Issue

"This meeting is now open"

RUTH DOERR BRIERLEY

It was Wednesday evening. As the following statement was read, as usual, from the desk of a Christian Science branch church: "This meeting is now open for experiences, testimonies of healing, and remarks on Christian Science," the import of the first few words impressed itself upon my thought more than ever before. One word in particular seemed illumined—open. What a wealth of meaning it contained! It implied the inviting call (Isa. 55:1), "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Yes, all may unhesitatingly come to drink the wine of inspiration and be refreshed by the nourishing milk of the Word.

At that instant I realized that each of these meetings is open for all to partake of the true understanding of God, Life, Truth, and Love—Life manifested in holiness and health; Truth voiced by its active witnesses who have proved its power in their daily lives; and Love expressed in the cheering smile, the warm handshake, the tender word of encouragement. Let us know that in our congretation there are ears open to hear the "still small voice," eyes open to behold man's real, perfect selfhood, lips open to proclaim God's grace, minds open to understand His glory, and hearts open to receive His blessings.

Every account of the overcoming of grief or the restoring of harmony in human relationships, every testimony of sin and sickness vanquished, every reassuring instance of God's loving protection and guidance gives new evidence to support Mary Baker Eddy's comforting passage in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 304), "This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death. The perfect man—governed by God, his perfect Principle—is sinless and eternal."

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