Christian Science practice with its resultant healing is the most powerful and important activity on earth, and it must be seen and upheld as such by Christian Scientists everywhere. Christian healing is the foundation stone of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Indeed, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, once wrote to a student, "A real scientific Healer is the highest position attainable in this sphere of being."

Christian Science practice is not a commercial enterprise; it is the highest of ministries. Since it is of God, it is not limited in the range of good it may unfold. All that is true about this sacred activity exists as a complete and ever-present idea in divine Mind, God; and man, the conscious likeness of this Mind, includes and embodies this idea by reflection and is therefore inseparable from it. Thus the practitioner may know that his practice is dependent on God alone and not upon persons. This understanding frees him from a sense of fear and limitation, and the outward result is a harmonious and growing usefulness in the healing work.

Qualified individuals entering the public practice of Christian Science should not be discouraged by others, nor should they allow either fear or doubt to obscure their vision, darken their understanding, or undermine their conviction of the importance of the step they are taking. The value of a consecrated practitioner in any community cannot be overestimated; and the addition of such workers to the ranks of our practitioners is welcomed by all thoughtful students, for it means a stronger church and more active support for every other worker in that field and for the Cause of Christian Science. The work of practitioners cannot be measured or weighed in the balance with the finite concepts of material sense. What is known to the divine Mind, not the feeble flickerings of mere human opinion, always governs.

One who discerns the sacredness and importance of Christian Science practice and is governed accordingly will recognize and appreciate the value of his work for others. In the Preface to "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy observes (p. ix): "In the early history of Christian Science, among my thousands of students few were wealthy. Now, Christian Scientists are not indigent; and their comfortable fortunes are acquired by healing mankind morally, physically, spiritually." A dictionary defines the word "comfortable" as "sufficient, but not in excess." From this it is apparent that our Leader recognized that an established Christian Science practice would adequately support the practitioner. If this was not true, only those with independent means could give their undivided attention to the healing work. Workers who understand this point will experience an ever-widening usefulness.

The practitioner is enjoined by Mrs. Eddy in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 22) to hold in sacred confidence all that the patient divulges to him. It is important that this By-Law be vigilantly obeyed. In like manner the patient needs to be sure that he is protecting his relationship to the practitioner and keeping it in confidence. Much trouble and interference would be avoided if this were always the case; and the usefulness of the practice would be enlarged. It would seem that one of the ways in which the adversary would try to interfere is by injecting personal sense into the practice work through careless talking and gossip. This wrong attitude may be responsible for delaying the desired result in certain instances, and of course should be avoided on this ground as well as for ethical reasons.

An office in which to practice is unimportant except as a convenience for all concerned. The most impressive office does not of itself provide a Christian Science practice. One whose home arrangements so permit, can be just as active as he would be in the most prominent location in the heart of a large city, provided his understanding of God and his devotion to the work are constant.

It may be said that true practice provides all that is necessary for its functioning. The student who deeply loves the healing work and is spiritually fitted for it can be active in that work wherever he is, even when traveling long distances from home. It is not included by reason of prominence or social position, family history or background, nor because of service in some official capacity in our Cause. Such factors are not a consideration in establishing and maintaining a successful practice and can neither advance nor retard one's progress as he reaches for that "highest position attainable in this sphere of being."

Christian Science reveals Spirit, God, as the only real attraction, and this attraction is positive and direct. It continuously operates on behalf of all that reflects or manifests Spirit. It is necessary, therefore, that a practitioner avoid any human outlining as to who his patients should be or where they may come from. Such outlining can only limit unfoldment. In Mind's kingdom there are no limitations of time or space.

By way of illustration a brief incident may be helpful. A young student of Christian Science had leased an office in the downtown area of a large metropolitan city and went to this office daily, although her practice did not occupy anything like her full time. One day when everything seemed especially inactive and quiet, she picked up "Miscellaneous Writings" by our Leader and read the following (p. 275): "May the great Shepherd that 'tempers the wind to the shorn lamb,' and binds up the wounds of bleeding hearts, just comfort, encourage, and bless all who mourn." Her thought seemed to include all mankind in an uplifted desire to heal and bless. That afternoon a person in great need came into the office. He was making a trip across the continent, which at that time was not so common as it is now, and was so eagerly receptive to the work done that the problem was solved. The patient and practitioner had never heard of each other before, and that particular building had many other practitioners in it. But the law of true direction and attraction was proved to be a spiritual rather than a material one.

Jesus said to his disciples (Matt. 9:37), "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few." The world today, even as in Jesus' time, is in need of workers in Christ's vineyard—conscientious and consecrated practitioners of the Science of Christianity. By a consecrated practitioner is meant one who places the Cause of Christian Science above all other considerations and who recognizes the relation of this Cause to the spiritual advancement of mankind. It is one who is proving order and freedom in his own affairs, one who is respected in his church and community as member, citizen, or friend, and last but not least, one who loves the moral and spiritual law and is obedient to it, not because he has to be, but because he loves to be.

Jesus' church was founded on the eternal Christ-healing. Healing is therefore the foundation stone of the oldest Christian church. The highest privilege is ours, that through the revelation and demonstration of the beloved Leader of Christian Science all who are worthy may have part in the continuing activity of this church and in advancing spiritual healing for the redemption of all mankind.