Article January 24, 1970 Issue

I Don't Live in Boston

RUTH ROSBOROUGH LAROCCA

Christ Jesus kept his disciples continually alert both to the individual and to the collective nature of their spiritual progress. He set forth clearly that the salvation of each depended on his own obedience and faithfulness. But he also told them: "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I [the Christ, Truth] in the midst of them."^{Matt. 18:19,20;}

Mrs. Eddy provided for Christian Scientists the means for the collective, or group, aspect of mankind's continuing development Christward in two forms: membership in The Mother Church and, since not everyone lives in Boston, membership in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist.

Sometimes a student of Christian Science will find himself the seeming target of all sorts of mesmeric suggestions of why he should not join his local branch church. The form these erroneous arguments take follows this sort of pattern:
"I'm not ready."
"I have too many other responsibilities to take on the additional
burden."
"I'm getting all I need studying by myself."
"Christian Science is fine, but I don't want anything to do with
the hypocrites in that church."