Exploring in depth what Christian Science is and how it heals.
Articles
THAT it is possible to be in another's presence without being in any vital sense aware of it is made evident in the round of our daily experiences, in which it so often happens that after we have been introduced to persons we frequently see them,—on the street, in church, in the street car, and almost at every turn, as it seems,—often enough, indeed, to leave no doubt in our minds that we have been daily seeing these same people, prior to the introduction, but with no consciousness of the fact, our minds being an absolute blank as to their existence up to the time they were emphasized to our notice by the formal acquaintance with them. Mankind has adown the ages been walking with an unseen presence, who, although "closer than breathing" and the very best friend we have, has in too many instances gone all along the way with us unrecognized and unknown.
THE religion of the Master has appealed in a special manner to the life of woman, and in turn has been adorned by her distinctive qualities. In the opening chapter of Genesis we are told that "God created man in his own image,.
LEAGUES of desolate snow-covered plains, a gray repellent sky, an endless horde of ravenous wolves stealthily moving across the bleak waste, — thus had the artist conveyed his conception of "Famine. " Driven deep into his soul by bitter experience was a similar picture in the labor leader's consciousness when, on being invited to consider Christian Science, he said, "Let us settle this 'bread and butter' question first.
A NEW step in the unfoldment of truth invariably provokes discussion, and for two reasons. First, it is out of line with the established beliefs and traditions of the schools; and second, it presents a point of view which is unfamiliar and, therefore, not readily grasped by the great majority, because settled convictions and habitual ways of looking at things render it difficult for them to change their point of view at once or to see things in a different light.
A SHORT time ago, while desiring and striving to bring to light a more abundant, harmonious, and perfect sense of life where the desire for death as well as the expectation of it were much in evidence, I had a short time alone amid the wonders and beauties of nature in one of her calm, serene moods. The greater glory of the sun was being succeeded by the lesser, yet gentler and more companionable, glory of the stars.
When upon a certain occasion Jesus was asked which is the "first" or great commandment in the law, he answered his questioner by referring him to the Old Testament, saying, "What is written in the law?" He then quoted from the sixth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy: "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: .
It is sometimes asked why all cases of disease are not quickly healed in Christian Science, assuming, of course, the sincere efforts of the practitioner to accomplish this result. Why it should ever be otherwise is a matter of much questioning and speculation.
Much has been written and said as to the fixity of natural law; meaning by natural law the supposed law of the so-called physical universe. Has any one ever defined such a natural law? Is there any comprehensive statement of a great law which rules all physical phenomena? In place of this, we find a multitude of so-called laws; indeed, it may be said that the discovery of new laws is quite as much the aim of the physicist as is his application of those already believed in.
This saying alone is not confuted, but abideth sure: that a man must shun the doing of wrong more than the receiving, and study above all things not to seem, but to be, righteous in the doing of his own business and the business of the city; and that if any man be found evil in anything, he is to be corrected; and that the next good thing after being righteous is to become righteous through correction and just retribution; and that all flattery of himself and of other men, be they few or many, he must eschew; and that he must use Oratory and all other Instruments of Doing for the sake of Justice alway. Socrates in "The Gorgias.
There is scarcely a person on earth who does not expect that some day there will be a betterment of present conditions. In spite of the prevalence of crime, disease, sorrow, and manifold other disasters, hope remains undefeated, and one asks himself, What deep reason underlies an optimism that triumphs over so many reverses and survives so much despair? The answer is that hope has a definite, albeit dimly comprehended, reason or law, while despair is devoid of reason; that no divine law underlies despondency, whereas hope forms one of that inspired triad, "faith, hope, love" (Rev.