Devotional Services Universal

William P. McKenzie

At the ordinary religious service there is prevalent always some element of curiousity. No matter how familiar the usual devotional service, the reading of prayers, or the singing, there is always the possibility of something unusual in the sermon. Whatever the creed, there are no two exponents exactly alike, and the expounding of the creed is done with the flavor of the individuality of the preacher. The reading of the same sermon in all churches of a denomination would seem to the hearers to have the formality of a proclamation. How is it, then, that in the Christian Science churches the world around, where on any particular Sunday the same sermon is read everywhere, the visitor finds no placid formality, but lively interest and earnest attention during the reading? One would think that if the words of a sermon could be read in print during the week before it is delivered, curiosity would be entirely abated, and no interest would be left inducing people to come and hear.

How is it, then, with no opportunity to satisfy the Athenian desire to hear some new thing, that large congregations assemble to listen intently to the reading of the Christian Science Lesson-Sermon, unless it be that instead of curiosity to hear something new they find satisfaction in hearing something true? The new thing known becomes common and uninteresting, but that which is true can be proved again and again, and so has perennial interest. Christian Scientists read and study during the week the selections from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which comprise the sermon, yet on Sunday find it so interesting that they listen with engrossed attention to the readers in church who proclaim the familiar words. At these services the auditors make additional gains in their grasp and acceptance of the truth beyond what their own study brought forth, so that they become "throughly furnished unto all good works."

There have been cases where a score or more of denominational churches in a district have been closed because of lack of preachers of the denomination, without whose help devotional services and worship of God could not (it was believed) be continued. The overcoming of such limitations was brought out by Mrs. Eddy's ordination of the books mentioned. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 313) her statement of this ordination appears: "Humbly, and, as I believe, divinely directed, I hereby ordain the Bible, and 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' to be hereafter the only pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land and in other lands." In the Church Manual (Art. XIV, Sect. 1) she says of these books, "They will continue to preach for this Church and the world."

Hereby was provision made for the universal devotional service suitable for the individual, the home group, the traveling party, the conference of neighbors, the ship's company, the soldiers' camp, as well as for congregations in public halls and church edifices. In some communities where readers of mature years were not available, a youth from school and a maid from the academy have read the lesson for their elders, and complied with that ideal set forth when Ezra instructed the children of the captivity regarding the law of God. In Nehemiah's record it is said of the readers chosen by Ezra that "they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

Now that young men from Christian Science homes have been called to serve God and country in fighting against those who have made war for gain and calculated profit, whose brutal injustice is actually planned in order to rouse fear in those made to suffer, it is of inestimable importance to know how universally Christian Science services, developing knowledge of divine Love which casts out fear, can be conducted by the men themselves. The problem of any commanding officer is the many denominations and the varying theories of the clerical representatives of these denominations. For the men of an army to hear a medley of opinions preached does not establish unity and power in the army; but overcoming of fear, recovery from sickness, cleansing from sin, the inevitable effect of Christian Science, does increase every man's potency in the direction of the struggle for justice and righteousness. Hence the welcome given to requests from officers and men that they be given opportunity to read the Christian Science service. In many cases this desire has been furthered with kindly consideration on the part of commanders who see therein the solving, in one case at least, of a vexed problem. As one officer said, "If I had men whose faith made them desire to read the Koran together I would give permission; and why should I not encourage the men who ask to read together from the Bible in a devotional service?"

William P. McKenzie.

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"Joy cometh in the morning"

June 22, 1918

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