Article May 17, 1982 Issue

Grow spiritually with the Church Manual

DALE W. FERGUSON

Regarding an individual's spiritual growth, Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and author of the Manual of The Mother Church, writes, "Of this I am sure, that each Rule and By-law in this Manual will increase the spirituality of him who obeys it, invigorate his capacity to heal the sick, to comfort such as mourn, and to awaken the sinner."^{ The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 230.}

Simply reading the By-Laws may have little effect in helping one attain a better understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him, and of how to heal the sick. The statement, however, refers to obeying each By-Law. It is the deep study of the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy, put into practice within the framework of the Church Manual, that progressively spiritualizes one's thinking.

Through experience as a member of The Mother Church and one of its branches, an individual discerns with increasing clarity that the Church Manual is as necessary to the promulgation of the message and practice of Christian Science as is the book that contains the complete statement of Christian Science, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. In other words, the Science of Christianity demonstrated by Christ Jesus and that God revealed to Mrs. Eddy as the Comforter for mankind will more successfully penetrate and break down the carnal-mindedness of human existence as loyal Christian Scientists obediently follow the Church Manual and work to fulfill all its provisions. To do this, great spiritual progress will be required of all members. No other means is possible for the evangelization of one's self and of the world.