Our Master taught us by example that the only true way of living is in doing holy work. At twelve years of age he was "about [his] Father's business." After he took up the active work of preaching the gospel there is no record of his having spent any time in idleness or waiting. During his agony on the cross, he not only lifted his thought above material aid, but regardless of the viciousness and degradation of the thieves, he prepared one of them to receive the truth of "life eternal." He also found time during that trying hour to provide a home for his mother and to forgive all his enemies, while as Mrs. Eddy says, "his three days' work in the sepulcher set the seal of eternity on time" (Science and Health, p. 44). The forty days after his resurrection were spent not in rejoicing over his great victory, in feasting or fasting, or any form of ritualistic worship, but in giving his followers a clearer idea of Life, Truth, and Love.

How well our Leader conformed to his example, every one can know by reading Sibyl Wilbur's true story of her life. When Mrs. Eddy had completed the writing of her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she did not idly wait to watch results, nor did she close her metaphysical college to take a long-needed rest. Each effort she put forth to spread the teaching of Christian Science throughout the world served as an impetus to some greater undertaking. To enumerate the many valuable plans which she formulated and put in operation as the result of her wisdom, foresight, and activity, is not necessary here: suffice it to say she was a tireless worker all the way. And now the question comes, Are we following her as she followed Christ? If so, when we have acquired our own church edifice we shall not be satisfied with this achievement. Every church, even in the smallest hamlet, should realize that it has still more important work to do. As a member of a branch church, the writer feels that contributions of time and money should flow into each church as freely after as before the completion of the building, because the supply is from God, hence unlimited. Nothing is more debilitating to the spiritual life than the loss of desire to give, as the Master said, for only as we give can we receive, and our capacity to receive is measured by our desire to give.

The literature committee of every church should be kept busy sending out our publications, that all may read and learn for themselves what Christian Science is; what it does and what it stands for. Encouragement, moral and financial, should be given to near-by places that are ready to start a church or society, but may need the help of one already established. While the smaller churches may not be able to do as extensive work as those in the larger cities, they can through faithful effort accomplish more and more each year.

There can be no cessation from labor. The only true happiness is found in consecrated work. Heaven should not be regarded as a place of idleness, nor should idleness stand for harmony. The old saying, "He has gone to his final resting place," conveys a false impression. The departed may in a sense be at rest, but not idle. Science and Health tells us that "God rests in action" (p. 519). Nothing could be more dreary or uninviting than a place or condition of inactivity. The most important work to be about at the present time is the healing of the sick, which includes the reclaiming of the sinner. Every true Christian Scientist is a practitioner and should be about his Father's business. To say we are "not good enough," that we "do not understand," or "are too busy," is simply to voice the arguments furnished by the adversary. Every one can tell what he has learned and proved about God, that God is Love, and that He does not send our troubles. Moreover, he can place Science and Health in the hands of the inquirer, with the counsel that he read it carefully and prayerfully, and then he can leave the matter in God's hands. If we do our part to the best of our ability, we may find that we are indeed instruments in His hands for the dissemination of the gospel. Let us start right today and, following the example of our Leader, work, watch, and pray.

If a church's growth has seemed slow, even backward, let us look carefully for the thought which has closed the doors to the needy. The growth of every church should be pronounced, but if there is a divided thought, this in itself may fully explain the lack of increase. All dissatisfaction, criticism, selfish ambition must be put away, the doors thrown wide open by love, and peace and joy be manifest, then the church cannot fail to be filled. If the members are sending out dissatisfied thoughts, how can they expect to draw others about them? We must watch and see that our every thought is right. Earnest and broad-minded Christian Scientists will be very reserved in their approval of any church division which is not necessitated by the growth of the church or the convenience of a large body of members, and even then there should be practically one mind regarding it. Let us remember that Love unites, while error would try to separate. If in doubt about the wisdom of a given action or thought, it is well to submit it to the following simple but effective test: Does God inspire and approve it? If not, then it must be a device of the adversary, and the sincere truth-seeker need not be deceived by it.

Worthy Christian Scientists are worshipers of God, firm believers in the inspired Word of the Bible, and earnest followers of the great Wayshower, Christ Jesus, and their devotion to God and His Christ is not diminished but rather increased because of their love and reverence for the Founder and Discoverer of Christian Science. The Mother Church is the vine to which every branch church is vitally linked. Christ Jesus said, "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine." Every true Christian Scientist should regard The Mother Church as the vine in which he is to abide as a deeply interested member. Any departure from the rules laid down in the Manual, or any disinclination to sustain the general supervision of its Board of Directors, would be entirely out of keeping and discreditable, knowing as we do that this church was founded and built as the result of years of toil by our Leader, that the Manual was prepared under her direction, and that the Directors were selected from the whole field by her wisdom. Even in material affairs the axiom, "Union is strength," is regarded as a great truism, and how much more do we need to hold to this united thought, this oneness of Mind.

The parental arms of The Mother Church are outstretched in love always to receive any weary or lonesome traveler who may be in search of truth and comfort, and countless thousands in all the world rejoice in its ever expanding influence for good, its ever increasing activities for the advancement of a demonstrable knowledge of God and His Christ among men.