Article February 12, 1955 Issue

THE SPREADING BRANCHES

ALICE LOUISE MERRILL

An American traveler is always impressed when attending services in a Church of Christ, Scientist, in another land with the fact that The Mother Church has branches throughout the world. Mary Baker Eddy states in a letter to a branch church (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 154), "The spreading branches of The Church of Christ, Scientist, are fast reaching out their broad shelter to the entire world."

Every branch of The Mother Church is vitally essential to the symmetry, the perfection, the productivity, of the whole. Each one starts as a tender shoot, with possibly only "two or three...gathered together in my name" (Matt. 18: 20). When rooted and grounded in the established strength of the parent vine, however, its quality is assured.

Increase in attendance naturally follows as the scientific understanding of Church unfolds in the consciousness of the members. The branch bears fruit after its kind, the kind and quality being representative of the depth of understanding. Christian character, and conduct of its workers. As the branches of a tree gain nourishment through the trunk and roots, so the branch church members turn confidently to the By-Laws of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy for spiritual guidance and instruction. Each of these members accepts the government of the Manual when he becomes a branch church member.

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February 12, 1955
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