The purposes and functions of the Christian Science Sunday School are stated in Article XX of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy. Here in Section 2, under the caption "Teaching the Children," are these inspired words: "The Sabbath School children shall be taught the Scriptures, and they shall be instructed according to their understanding or ability to grasp the simpler meanings of the divine Principle that they are taught."

Section 3, under the caption "Subject for Lessons," describes the first lessons of the children and then states: "The next lessons consist of such questions and answers as are adapted to a juvenile class, and may be found in the Christian Science Quarterly Lessons, read in Church services. The instruction given by the children's teachers must not deviate from the absolute Christian Science contained in their textbook."

The Sunday School, with its sacred and highly important purpose of instructing the children in the fundamental truths of being contained in the Holy Scriptures and in the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, is, then, an integral part of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

To the consecrated Christian Scientist, Church has a much higher signification than that of a building wherein services are held. He is ever mindful of our revered Leader's definition of "Church" in Science and Health (p. 583):

"Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.

"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."

Can there be any doubt in the minds of earnest students that the Sunday School is a vital part of the Christian Science church? Does not the Sunday School afford proof of its utility by elevating the race? Indeed it does this every Sunday as the children are instructed in the Ten Commandments, in the Lord's Prayer and in its spiritual interpretation by Mrs. Eddy, and in the Sermon on the Mount.

Is not the Sunday School "rousing the dormant understanding" of the children "from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas"? We have all heard testimonies given at Wednesday meetings or have read testimonies in the Christian Science periodicals in which Sunday School pupils have told of their demonstrations of the truths of Science, which they learned in the Sunday-school and by which they have been able to cast out devils, or error, and heal the sick.

Many adults also have testified to the fact that the foundational truths they learned while attending the Sunday School have enabled them not only to heal themselves of sickness and sin, but also to solve the business, financial, and moral problems which have arisen in their daily experience. Many others have told of the benefits they have received as the result of teaching in the Sunday School and of the inspiration they have gained from the simple faith of the children and from their ready acceptance of the teachings of Christian Science.

Is not all this proof that the Sunday School is an integral part of the healing mission of the Church of Christ, Scientist, which is founded on the rock of Christ-healing?

The function of the Sunday School in teaching the children the healing truths of perfect God and perfect man can be traced back to the time of Christ Jesus, our great Master. It is recorded in the nineteenth chapter of Matthew: "Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

The Master was keenly aware of the receptivity of the child thought to the Christ, Truth, and asked his disciples to be like little children. On another occasion he took a child, set him in their midst, and told them, "Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me" (Matt. 18:5).

In his Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul brings out the point that each of us has a different function in church activities and that when all activities are put together, a beautiful pattern of the church triumphant is seen. He writes (4:7-13): "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ...And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

The spiritual education of the children is of vital importance to the Christian Science movement. The prosperity and continuance of this movement depend, to a great extent, on the children who are at present in our Sunday Schools and who may, even before they leave Sunday School, become members of The Mother Church and of its branches.

Church members who are judged worthy to teach the children in the Sunday School are thus truly serving the Church of Christ, Scientist, of which the Sunday School is an integral part.