On page 207 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, declares, "The spiritual reality is the scientific fact in all things." The experience of a Christian Science Society in Indiana shows what can be accomplished by a branch church membership when the claims of evil appearing specifically as apathy and stagnation are reversed and the spiritual facts of Church are realized.

For three years the society had very few members. There was a small attendance at the Sunday services and a much smaller attendance at the Wednesday evening testimony meetings. Sometimes months elapsed between the meetings of the executive board. Two sets of bylaws were in circulation among the members, and there was no record of which set was in effect.

The church edifice was small, and its interior was finished a dark green. The Reading Room located in the rear of the church was sufficient for literature sales but inadequate for study. Only one pupil was enrolled in the Sunday School, and the Sunday School was not listed in the Card Directory of The Christian Science Journal.

Although literature had been distributed in the community in former years, this activity had ceased. In only a few instances were members subscribing to the Christian Science periodicals. Collections were sometimes inadequate to take care of the modest expenses. Disbanding the society was considered.

The society writes:

"During the past three years we were visited by a representative from the Department of Branches and Practitioners of The Mother Church; the membership has held monthly inspirational meetings; and much prayerful metaphysical work has been done to gain a more spiritual concept of Church.

"With a deep sense of gratitude we are able to report a 50 percent increase in church membership, and additional applications are on hand for consideration at our next admission of members. One member has received class instruction, and other members have expressed the intent to apply to a teacher within the coming year.

"We now have eighteen Sunday School pupils in regular attendance, including some college students, and three of these have joined The Mother Church.

"Healings of a dislocated hip, of broken bones, and of discordant human relationships have been reported by members, giving further practical proof to our membership of the blessings of radical reliance on Christian Science.

"A completely new set of bylaws has been adopted, and the interior of the church has been completely redecorated in lighter colors.

"Attendance at the Wednesday evening meetings has greatly increased, and there has been capacity attendance at the Sunday services. Collections have quadrupled. Subscriptions to the periodicals have also increased.

"A lecture fund has been established, and we are looking forward to having soon our first lecture in over twenty years.

"Recognizing the need for better Reading Room facilities, a larger church auditorium, expanded Sunday School facilities, and a nursery, the membership has been guided to select and to purchase a large house and to put up for sale the present structure.

"The new church building has exactly the right arrangement of rooms and the right amount of space to meet our needs. It is located on a corner lot one block from the main street and the public library. Although the building is old it has been modernized and is in excellent condition. We are able to move into it immediately because there is no need for repairs or alterations. The business transaction has been completely harmonious, including the price that is well within our means.

"The former owners have expressed the desire to begin attending the church services and to bring their seven children to our Sunday School. The realtor who handled the transaction contributed a substantial portion of his commission to the society.

"These evidences of growth are attributed to our holding fast to the spiritual understanding of Church and to the statement in Science and Health where Mrs. Eddy, referring to the destruction of evil, says (p. 233), 'This is an element of progress, and progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil.'"