Article February 19, 1955 Issue

THE TREE'S TRUNK AND ITS BRANCHES

ALMA A. KONIGSLOW

From childhood the writer has loved trees, and most of all the live oak. Often in her early years, when caught in a rainstorm, she would seek protection under its spreading branches. Or on a very hot day, when the scorching sun would have forced her indoors to play, these beautiful branches, giving shade, would shelter her from the intense heat. Here she found great comfort.

Since the writer became a student of Christian Science, she has seen much similarity between the growth of a live oak tree and The Mother Church and its branches. This tree, majestic in appearance with its massive and stalwart trunk, symbolizes strength and solidity, and the spreading branches express beauty, shelter, and comfort. The name "live oak" has been given to this tree because it retains its leaves throughout the year. The tree is always active and continually unfolding its leaves and spreading its branches far beyond the trunk of the tree. In her "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy says (p.154), "The spreading branches of The Church of Christ, Scientist, are fast reaching out their broad shelter to the entire world."

Mrs. Eddy defines "Church" in its absolute sense as, "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 583). This revelation came to our Leader before a material structure had been erected. Eventually the conviction unfolded to her that the Cause of Christian Science demanded a church of its own.

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