We opened appropriately with Hymn 181 - "Loving Father, we Thy children look to Thee in fear's dark night While the angels of Thy presence Guide us upward to the light..."
Read from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures:
The misuse of mental power
The distance from ordinary medical practice to Christian Science is full many a league in the line of light; but to go in healing from the use of inanimate drugs to the criminal misuse of human will-power, is to drop from the platform of common manhood into the very mire of iniquity, to work against the free course of honesty and justice, and to push vainly against the current running heavenward.
Proper self-government
Like our nation, Christian Science has its Declaration of Independence. God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love.
Man's rights are invaded when the divine order is interfered with, and the mental trespasser incurs the divine penalty due this crime.
Read from Message for 1901:
To attempt to twist the fatal magnetic element of human will into harmony with divine power, or to substitute good words for good deeds, a fair seeming for right being, may suit the weak or the worldly who find the standard of Christ's healing too high for them.
Discussion around "criminal misuse of human will-power" - Mrs. Eddy was referring to those within the ranks of her church - a warning to all to be on the look-out for those using will-power instead of relying entirely on the power of Truth, God, to heal. Even if healing results from will-power, it ultimately serves to separate the patient from a true sense of God, of His power and presence.
Then we moved on to elaborate on the Blog post The precious example of Hannah - how we can all use self-examination on being true to our word...