In his first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul asks the pertinent question, "Is Christ divided?" And upon its answer depends the solution to our problems, the way to our progress, and our right to glory.

In the tenets of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy has written (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 497): "We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter: and man in God's image and likeness." When as Christian Scientists we become members of The Mother Church or of a branch of it, we joyfully assent to this declaration, and are benefited, if we are worthy, by the blessings such assent involves. It is one of our greatest privileges to become a member of a Church of Christ, Scientist; and this privilege must not be taken lightly, lest we lack in fulfilling our obligations thereto.

The Mother Church will continue to exist through all time, because it stands for the one Christ; because it is established on the truth that Christ is not divided. If we will ponder upon how much this statement may mean to us in our daily experience, we may be greatly encouraged and inspired thereby. The healing of ourselves and others is brought about by knowing the one Christ. If a belief of discord should appear in our experience, shall we not at once strive to realize the one Christ, which Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 333) "expresses God's spiritual, eternal nature"? Suppose a belief in discord takes the form of disagreement with a neighbor. Suppose each maintains and continues to insist that he is right, would there ever be a healing of the difficulty? But if one is righteously and scientifically seeking to know the one Christ, how quickly and completely harmony may be restored!

The knowing of the one Christ must needs be completely unselfed. It is the supposed presence of so-called mortal mind that would hinder our realization. In all our experience as Christian Scientists there is, perhaps, no more significant an opportunity to demonstrate this fact than in sharing the work involved in maintaining a loyal Christian Science branch church organization. Here may be found a place for the talents each possesses, and these talents may be multiplied and developed indefinitely to great usefulness.

Every earnest student who desires to progress may find an avenue looking toward that end when he enters willingly into branch church activities. Let us not feel that we do not have enough understanding or are not experienced enough to accept work in the branch church of which we are members; but let us, rather, think of the flower that comes out of the ground and rises above it into the sunshine in order to grow. If the flower could persist in saying, "I shall stay under the ground because I have such a small beginning, and I do not know what there may be to contend with above the ground, there are so many others so much farther advanced in growth than I," think what a loss we should sustain in that which beautifies the earth! So it is with us. When we advance normally into the sunlight of activity, and give what we have of our time and talents, however small, toward the demonstration of the one Christ in church organization, we cannot keep from growing in understanding and demonstration along all right lines.

The argument of lack of time is one which frequently tempts the thought of those who might be very useful in church activity; and this argument thereby retards growth and righteous progress. Let us analyze the argument. Perhaps we have been where we have felt hurried beyond measure, and where we were quite convinced that there was more for us to do than we could possible accomplish. The first error that entered into this false process of thinking was probably "self." We began by believing that we in our own strength had something, or many things, to do. Leaving God quite out of our calculation, we limited our capacity, until it was no wonder we began to look with consternation upon our so-called list of duties; whereas, had we thought first of the allness of God and His power and capacity, how small in comparison would have appeared our obligations! So in this, as in all other problems, we must keep in thought the fact that there is one Christ, in order not to be tempted to believe in the falsity of many minds, many Christs, many varied and untrue ideas of God. As to the false belief of lack of time, we know this, that what we really desire to do, we may do. Whatever is most important in our own consideration will be most apt to demand and receive our attention.

In the work for a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, it has often been observed that home and business problems have found their ready solutions when those involved were busy with legitimate Christian Science organization work, proving that we cannot lose by giving service to God. Often we are tempted to excuse ourselves from branch church work, pleading that we need the time to work on our own problems. There are two prominent errors that promote this argument. One is the belief that our own problems always require much time and labor, when we should be emulating the Master in his quickness of right thinking and its results; and the other is quite too prevalent—the belief that church work does not necessarily involve individual growth. But church work does promote individual growth. Must it not necessarily follow that after diligent and earnest activity for our branch church we should see more clearly to adjust our own views of environments? The centurion left his own home and his sick servant to seek the Christ, Truth; and, behold, when he returned, his servant was healed and all were rejoicing.

So, working for the glory of God in the realm of holy activity, we may progress far beyond our present vision and our to-day's desires. But we must give the demand for branch church activity its proper place. Every member of every branch church has his or her work to do there. We may not all be elected or appointed to some conspicuous place, but each office and each service, whether small or large, is important, and its demands never exceed the capacity or fitness of the rightful incumbent, who has clearly established in his consciousness the one Christ, and has thereby overcome both a desire for prominence and a fear of serving. If we are not prepared to accept our opportunities to serve, no demands will be made upon us, and we shall be likened to the barren tree, of which the Master asked, "Why cumbereth it the ground?"

A tree is not complete without its branches. So, the branches of The Mother Church are necessary to its completeness in the demonstration of one Christ; and we shall behold and see the glory of the one Christ when we learn patiently to serve toward the consummation of the realization, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."

Copyright, 1927, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.