Ushering at church services, lectures, and meetings in a Church of Christ, Scientist, calls for active witnessing to the divine modes of Christian Science. As solar beams of light and warmth cheer all, so efficient ushering, which radiates the Christlike qualities of alertness, strength, and spontaneity, never fails to welcome, encourage, and comfort the visitor, the regular attendant, and the fellow member.

As with all work for our Cause, ushering, to be effective, must be the result of consecrated metaphysical work on the part of those responsible for the appointment of the ushering personnel. It should not, therefore, be lightly assumed that every individual member of a church has attained the degree of alertness, meekness, consecration, and spiritual understanding which alone equips the individual to practice the art of ushering impersonally and successfully.

Mary Baker Eddy, the beloved Leader of the Christian Science movement, writes on page 93 of her autobiography, entitled "Retrospection and Introspection,"' a passage that is poignant with meaning for all ushers. It reads, "The best spiritual type of Christly method for uplifting human thought and imparting divine Truth, is stationary power, stillness, and strength; and when this spiritual ideal is made our own, it becomes the model for human action" Ushers who are metaphysically prepared and obedient to the rules of their church will minister to the needs of the congregation by spontaneously performing helpful acts of courtesy and radiating a kindness that will be felt.

One definition of the verb usher is "to introduce." The church usher is often the first Christian Scientist to be observed by the stranger. How important it is that the stranger's introduction to Christian Science should be Christlike, compassionate, joyous. Such seekers for Truth coming to our church for the first time will find the Christly door to peace and happiness, health and well-being. wide open when the consciousness of the usher is filled with joyous awareness of God's presence and power.

Mrs. Eddy defines "Church" on page 583 of the Christian Science textbook. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in part thus: "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." This exalted concept of Church, loved and cherished by Christian Scientists everywhere, is wholly spiritual. Not one iota of erroneous belief can ever enter Church. Our concept of Church can be kept so pure and shining that nothing can mar our clear realization that all who enter the church edifice will feel the divine presence and be aroused to the apprehension and demonstration of those spiritual ideas which are necessary for their comfort, freedom, and guidance.

Success in the ushering work is greatly enhanced when metaphysical work is done by all concerned well in advance of the Sunday service, Wednesday testimony meeting, members' meeting, or lecture. Thus a mental atmosphere of peaceful, active alertness is established in thought and any possible friction or inharmony eliminated before, instead of during, the event.

An earnest Christian Scientist related that in her capacity as head usher in a large and very active branch church she generally received notices of lectures about two months before they were to be given by her church. Immediately prayerful metaphysical work was begun and continued daily until she felt quite happy in a clear realization that she was demonstrating divine Love's government. The day of the lecture was invariably accompanied by a sense of joy and freedom which stemmed from the realization that right, harmonious conditions were established and divinely protected. The result was without exception satisfactory, and church members and visitors often expressed keen appreciation of the peaceful mental atmosphere and the unobtrusive ushering.

The Church of Christ, Scientist, is a divine provision for the benefit of mankind and is destined to bring to every weary, sad, or suffering heart the healing, liberating Christ and to awaken every individual to a present awareness of his precious heritage as a child of God. This church, which teaches love to all mankind, will expand in service to the human race until all men, healed, ransomed, redeemed, shall declare in exultation (I John 3:2), "Now are we the sons of God."

On one occasion, after acknowledging the blessings which had come to them through the peculiar privileges they had enjoyed in the ushering work, the ushers of The Mother Church, informally assembled, ended a letter expressing their debt of gratitude to our Leader with the following words (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 352): "It is our earnest prayer that we may so reflect in our thoughts and acts the teachings of Christian Science that our daily living may be a fitting testimony of the efficacy of our Cause in the regeneration of mankind."