In the October, 1895, issue of The Christian Science Journal our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, under the caption, "What We Can Do for the Children," called upon loyal Christian Scientists "to organize immediately a Sunday School for the children." Consequently, it is important and required that each branch church and each society, whenever possible, establish and maintain a Sunday School for the spiritual education of the children.

In complying with Mrs. Eddy's request, the members of the branch are furnishing proof of their love for Christian Science. They are, at the same time, preparing the way for the future maintenance and progress of the branch. It may be said that the Sunday School is a gilt of love from the members of our branches to the children of the community.

The Sunday School is an integral part of the branch, and the metaphysical support on the part of each member is important. Nearly every community has its share of the millions of children who have no Sunday School affiliation. Through prayer and demonstration, our branches are finding ways of reaching these precious children. Many branches have proved that when the members include in their prayers the welfare of the children of the world, children of the neighborhood will find their way into the Sunday School. Thus the members are truly finding their own in another's good.

The following incident shows how love and humility helped to increase the Sunday School attendance of a branch church:

The members of a downtown church found that their neighborhood had very much changed, many members having moved to suburban areas. A meeting was called to decide whether or not the church should consider relocating. It was pointed out that the apartments in the area were filled with people and the nearby grade school crowded with children. This aroused the members to see that they were apparently excluding from their thoughts the very ones so much in need of Christian Science. They agreed to change their thinking and to open their hearts to the people in the community. They were reminded of our Leader's words in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 518), "The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother's need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another's good."

This new and more loving attitude brought gratifying results to the Sunday School. Soon little urchins, whose clothes were dirty and ragged, began wandering in. The officers welcomed them, made out registration cards, and assigned them to classes. The next week the superintendent and teachers visited the homes of these children. The parents seemed pleased by the interest shown and were happy to have them attend the Sunday School. The following Sunday most of the newcomers returned to be enrolled as regular pupils, and they were clean! These little ones, who left their play to learn something about God, were truly attracted by the love expressed and have been regular in attendance.

The members of this church made practical the truth which had unfolded to consciousness, illustrating Jesus' words (Mark 10: 14), "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

Christian Scientists should be alert to the opportunities of inviting children who have no other church affiliation to our Sunday Schools and their parents to our church services.

Willingness to serve as a teacher or officer in the Sunday School is another way of supporting fully this church activity, and selfless work on the part of the members is necessary. Sometimes the false argument of timidity, of avoiding the obligation of regular attendance, or of having served long enough in church activities deters a member from contributing to the progress of the Sunday School. But when the members, with childlike receptivity, free themselves from these false beliefs and are willing to accept God's call to serve and help His little ones, they find priceless joy and satisfaction in doing so.

Mrs. Eddy writes on page 323 of Science and Health, "Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea." Our Leader also tells us in the textbook (p. 113), "The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love."

As the members demonstrate Love in daily life In letting their thoughts and actions express it, children will be attracted to the Sunday School, and progress will be increasingly demonstrated. These words in Matthew (25:40) are most helpful: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."