Sufficient advice concerning the Wednesday evening service in Christian Science churches has been given to the Field through our publications, to have brought about ere now a well-nigh faultless testimony meeting, had this advice been heeded. If the purpose of the Wednesday evening service and its implied preparation were fully appreciated, there would never be an oppressive silence, but the hour would be "vocal with praise." In the church Manual (Art. VIII., Sect. 24) our Leader has said: "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases.' " The apostle John says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." And David exclaimed, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."

Nowhere in the Scripture or in our Leader's works are we bidden to speak of the manifold blessings which come through the understanding of truth, except for the purpose of praising God in grateful remembrance of His benefits and attracting our fellow-mortals to the contemplation of spiritual good. The wisdom which planned these meetings contained no intimation that they were designed especially for expressions from the favored few who have been trained in rhetorical elegance, or that those only should speak who are advanced in the understanding of Christian Science. Nor is there any necessity for an attempt to expound the teachings of Christian Science here. The work of elucidating the Principle and practice of Christian Science is incumbent on the text-book and properly authorized teachers before private classes. Only the pure thought of gratitude for Life, Truth, and Love, and their innumerable and constant manifestations to "the children of men," together with the loving desire to persuade others to investigate Christian Science, should impel us to utterance. The least thought of selfish desire for prominence or self-aggrandizement mars the testimony and prevents the pure praise which can be adorned only with humility, love, and fearless confidence that God, the giver of all good, has imparted to the consciousness which acknowledges Him, the ability to reflect Him in words so fitly spoken that, as Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 183), "if he open his mouth it shall be filled—not by reason of the schools, or learning, but by the natural ability, that reflection already has bestowed on him, to give utterance to Truth."

It sometimes happens that a testimony perfectly expressed is no more convincing to the outsider than some broken, ungrammatical voicing of gratitude. This results from the fact that qualities of mind which reflect God are always effective. Gratitude, humbleness of mind, and love are acceptable, and carry conviction to sincere seekers of Truth. The effectiveness of these qualities, which can declare "I know that my redeemer liveth," cannot be hindered by a faulty use of words. Ignorance of the proper use of language is not commendable, however. It is one of the mortal limitations which should be overcome, and in our progressive modern times, with its many facilities for home study, it is possible and praiseworthy for all to improve themselves in this direction. But above the belief of limitation or the belief of educated ability is the important point that the purpose of testimony is to praise God,—to call attention to Him "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." Each one should therefore strive to free his thoughts from self, in its various forms of fear, vanity, love of applause and prominence, or timidity and self-distrust, until no obstruction remains to hinder the pure voice of praise.

Jesus prayed, "Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." When all who attend these meetings habitually endeavor to exalt Principle and its idea alone in their thoughts, our meetings will be permeated with an atmosphere of gratitude which finds expression through those whose offering takes form in words, and maintained as well by those who at times find that silent recognition of the divine presence is the highest praise they can offer. All can thus unite in fulfilling the Scriptural wisdom concerning "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak."

In the small churches error sometimes assumes the form of an oppressive sense of duty. A certain few carry the burden of the work, and these same few are expected to speak every Wednesday evening; if they fail to do so, they are perhaps reproved by their brethren. It has been said that "slavery to duty is often a form of fetish worship, and attenuated expression of fear." A proper sense of duty and obedience to duty is requisite, but it should not be exaggerated out of proportion by the belief that the success of the Wednesday evening service depends upon the activity of a certain few. The success of these meetings depends not so much upon the number of audible words spoken, as upon the spirit of thanksgiving which pervades the consciousness of the audience. When each one becomes awake to his individual part in maintaining this mental atmosphere of light and love, the Master's declaration, "It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you," will be more clearly understood. This impersonal sense of the work will remove anxiety concerning the service, and bring instead a quiet confidence that this spiritually active condition will open the proper channel for grateful testimony.

On the other hand, members of the larger churches have been heard to say that they do not consider their modest effort necessary where there are many advanced Scientists to give such excellent testimonies. This error of self-distrust receives a rebuke where Mrs. Eddy quotes the stanza.—

and continuing says, "You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle. A dew-drop reflects the sun. Each of Christ's little ones reflects the infinite One" (Pulpit and Press, p. 4). Scriptural allusions to testimony suggest a preparatory prayer for understanding, an effort for purification, preceding audible praise: "That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;" "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works:" "I will wash mine hands in innocency: ... that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works."

In the by-law quoted above, the first admonition is, in the words of St. Paul, "Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Our first step is the preparatory work through earnest prayer of the self that, with its innumerable claims of sinful sense, would obstruct the pure reflection of Truth and prevent a grateful acknowledgment of its blessings "before men." As our daily lives increasingly attest our recognition and acceptance of the supremacy of good, we shall come to our Wednesday evening meetings filled with the assurance that the presence of Spirit is there to bless all, and that, whether through one individual or through another, sufficient testimony will be given to answer the inquiry of the "stranger that is within thy gates," who has not yet learned to "praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"