Sowing and Reaping

Archibald McLellan

Perhaps never was the growth of the Christian Science movement in the last three decades more graphically portrayed than at this year's annual meeting, when the new President of The Mother Church in contrast sketched so vividly the first service of this church which he attended, thirty-four years ago—then the only church. One could easily picture that group of earnest students in our Leader's home, listening eagerly to the new-old gospel to whose worldwide promulgation she had consecrated her every effort; and looking on the audience gathered in the magnificent edifice dedicated just a decade ago,typical of an unnumbered host of the church body,—would exclaim, as did Mr. Frye, "What wonders has God wrought through our beloved Leader's devotion to our cause, which she held in mind beyond all other things!"

Only one whose prophetic sense had been quickened by spiritual enlightenment, whose vision was broad enough to span the horizon of the coming years, could have so courageously entered the lists against error as did Mrs. Eddy. Like the shepherd lad of old her declaration of faith was, "I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts;" and it was vouchsafed her to prove that "there is a God in Israel," for the sick were healed with the word of Truth—the divine ever-presence demonstrated. She gives us a hint of the conditions in those early years, when she says, "I saw before me the awful conflict, the Red Sea and the wilderness; but I pressed on through faith in God, trusting Truth, the strong deliverer, to guide me into the land of Christian Science, where fetters fall and the rights of man are fully known and acknowledged" (Science and Health, p. 226).

In this sentence Mrs. Eddy has given us at once the secret of her triumph and the fearful odds against which it was won. Hers was the courage of one who knows of a surety the invincibility of truth and the nothingness of error before it. Day after day and year after year she gave herself to the work to which her hand had been set, the work in which Christian Scientists as her followers are today privileged to share,—the final overcoming of error. Joy and gratitude for the past year's progress in the varied activities of the church of our Leader's founding can but be proportionate to the share each one has had in its accomplishment. If we have healed the sick, if we have held the cup of living water to thirsting lips, we surely have a right to thank God and take courage. The laurel wreath of victory rests only on the brow of him who armed with "the sword of the Spirit" has wrestled with the enemy in the open.

Mrs. Eddy's achievement was the working out of that inexorable law which declares, "He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." Her field was the world, and like the sower in the parable she gave out the word of Truth with an unsparing hand. The farmer knows that his harvest will be according to the quality of the seed and the soil in which it is come to fruition; that he must be generous in his sowing if he would reap abundantly. Mrs. Eddy had no doubt of the seed, and she gave herself assiduously to the task of preparing the ground for its reception, that under the care of Him who "giveth the increase" it might bring forth many fold. Her great desire was that the truth she had discovered might be preserved in its purity, and on page 462 of Science and Health she says, "Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down."

The Master's promise was that they who believed on him should do not only the works which he did, but even greater ones. Through the labors of Mrs. Eddy Christian Scientists have been able to prove the first part of this proposition; the proving of the second part is contingent on their faithfulness to the teachings of the Leader who through storm and sunshine followed bravely on to the goal of them that sow to the Spirit,—even "life everlasting." The faith that is without works is the seed that profiteth nothing to the husbandman, and the records in the coming year of the sick who have been healed, of those dead in trespasses and sins who have been awakened to a new life, will witness alike to the truth of the seed and the faithfulness of the sowing.

Archibald McLellan.

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