Article April 4, 1953 Issue

THE ADVANTAGES OF CHURCH ACTIVITY

[Of Special Interest to Young People]

RACE NELSON WILT

Mary Baker Eddy recognized the human need for organization in church work when she wrote the Manual of The Mother Church, which provides not only for the establishment of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, but also for branch churches and college organizations. Unified effort within the organization of The Mother Church and its diverse activities contributes essentially to the spiritual growth of a Christian Scientist. The opportunities for learning and practicing Christian Science through active membership in branch churches, societies, and college organizations are unlimited.

Mrs. Eddy gives this spiritual definition of "Church" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583): "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Christian Science teaches that God is Principle, infinite Truth and Love, and that He is all-knowing, all-acting, and wholly good. Church, therefore, in its absolute sense, is the all-inclusive embodiment of right ideas and their harmonious action; it is not a material structure.

Mrs. Eddy also describes the highest human sense of church as she continues her definition by saying, "The Church is 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." This definition contains active verbs which show the function of the church in the community. Do they not also contain a challenge to all Christian churches to prove the truth of Jesus' words, "By their fruits ye shall know them"?

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