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Mary Baker Eddy, Leader

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him" (Deut 32:11-12). As Mary Baker Eddy was one with the Lord, and there was no strange god with her, Christ identified her as the infallible Leader of her young flock. Two decades before, she had discovered the method of Christ-healing as she rose from her physical death bed. And when she distributed the Word through healing and teaching transformations, God's message was founded - scribed on earth. The title, Leader, crowns spiritual understanding. The practical law of Science had been hidden from humanity's view since before the world was. Now our Leader is identified, filled with the Holy Ghost, and we need to stay alert to every detail of her government. "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"

  Alertness to Duty. SECT. 6. It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged, - and justified or condemned. (Man 42:4)

Jesus demonstrated Christ, Truth. Mary Baker Eddy demonstrated the promised Comforter - the Science of Love. As Christ was Jesus' title, so Leader was Mary Baker Eddy's title, as identified in her Manual and associated exclusively with her Church (temple, body). "Mrs. Eddy organized The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., devised its church government, originated its form of public worship, wrote its Church Manual and Tenets, and always has been and is now its guide, guardian, Leader, and wise and unerring counsellor" (My vi:11).

As Christ is one with Jesus' body (temple of the living God), so Science - the law of Love that built the Temple - is one with Mary Baker Eddy, Leader of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, MA. She writes, "Those who look for me in person, or elsewhere than in my writings, lose me instead of find me" (My 120:2). The Church in Boston is written on granite, but proof of its existence can only be found scribed in the heart of Love. "I hope and trust that you and I may meet in truth and know each other there, and know as we are known of God" (My 120:4). To follow our Leader is to discern the Word of the Manual and live within its rule as she did.

"SHEEP. Innocence; inoffensiveness; those who follow their leader" (SH 594:12)

George Denninger ©

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