Mary Baker Eddy recognized the human need for organization in church work when she wrote the Manual of The Mother Church, which provides not only for the establishment of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, but also for branch churches and college organizations. Unified effort within the organization of The Mother Church and its diverse activities contributes essentially to the spiritual growth of a Christian Scientist. The opportunities for learning and practicing Christian Science through active membership in branch churches, societies, and college organizations are unlimited.

Mrs. Eddy gives this spiritual definition of "Church" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 583): "The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." Christian Science teaches that God is Principle, infinite Truth and Love, and that He is all-knowing, all-acting, and wholly good. Church, therefore, in its absolute sense, is the all-inclusive embodiment of right ideas and their harmonious action; it is not a material structure.

Mrs. Eddy also describes the highest human sense of church as she continues her definition by saying, "The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." This definition contains active verbs which show the function of the church in the community. Do they not also contain a challenge to all Christian churches to prove the truth of Jesus' words, "By their fruits ye shall know them"?

Within the organization of the Church of Christ, Scientist, committee member, usher, cloakroom attendant, board member, Reader, and other workers all have opportunities to bring forth the fruits of Truth and Love in their work by expressing the Godlike qualities of unselfed service, co-operative love, and progressiveness. The writer, in his work as one of a group of directors of a Christian Science college organization, shared in seeing how church may function in the community to elevate the race.

During the course of a year's term the directors of the organization prayed individually to know and understand the ideas of Truth in divine Science which, when unselfishly applied to the human experience, would result in harmonious action and improved methods. They worked co-operatively, sharing ideas periodically at board meetings. They learned that progress necessitates not only a knowledge of Mrs. Eddy's definition of Church, but also the application of it; that in Christianity it is essential not only to fulfill the letter or mechanics of church organization, but to practice its spirit through the love which reflects Love, God.

In the first chapter of John we read that "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Christ is the infinite divine manifestation of God. This inherent divinity of the Christ was manifested humanly in the words and works of Jesus, who understood more clearly than all others man's unity with God, the Father, and proved the power of Truth and Love to heal and educate mankind. The directors of the organization further realized that truly to elevate was to heal and educate according to Christ Jesus' example, and that to do this the individual organization member must prove his understanding of God by expressing the divine nature unselfishly, thus showing forth grace and truth.

The practical results for the organization were numerous. During the year the membership of the organization increased substantially to the highest point in its history, and a way was found to provide each member with an opportunity to serve in some phase of its activity. There was more consistent attendance at the midweek meetings, and the testimonies of healing given at these meetings showed greater variety and spontaneity. A condition of restlessness and coughing at the meetings was healed. There was a marked increase in the use of a room which had been provided for quiet study of Christian Science, and the average weekly count of Christian Science literature collected for distribution through local branch churches increased 300 per cent. There was order, harmony, and accomplishment at the business meetings.

The writer experienced two specific healings during the year which are illustrative of many which occurred in the community as a result of the activities of the organization. At first in his work as a director he had severe headaches, which hindered him greatly. This recurring condition was healed when he realized that the function of Church to rouse "the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas" was a natural manifestation of Truth and Love, and hence could never be accompanied by error or pain. Also, a condition of infection on his foot which had been present for several years disappeared naturally and painlessly as he expressed spiritual activity, in proof that Truth casts out whatever is erroneous and objectionable.

The over-all result of the year's work was an increased awareness in the community of the organization's unique position on the campus as the organized representative of the Christian Science movement.

A Church of Christ, Scientist, in any community helps to guard and guide the spiritual growth of the community. Actively, the Christian Science church, society, or college organization proclaims the truth which heals the sick and the sinning of false concepts of God, thus guarding and protecting its members and thereby the community. Actively, the Christian Science church organization helps to educate its members and the community to a greater knowledge of Truth and Love, thus guiding them to spiritual freedom.

By understanding and by taking these steps the branch church, society, or college organization will grow in membership and in membership participation, and will witness Christian healing. An organization of Christian Scientists, therefore, fulfills its function and grows proportionately as its members, individually and collectively, entertain the spirit of Truth and Love and demonstrate Christianity.

"Radiant with mercy and justice, the sword of Truth gleams afar and indicates the infinite distance between Truth and error, between the material and spiritual,—the unreal and the real" (Science and Health, p. 538). Radiant with practical Christianity, the Church of Christ, Scientist, heals, educates, and guards humanity, guiding it out of material sense into the spiritual sense of God as Truth and Love.