Editorials

When Jesus was questioned as to his Messiahship, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" he answered, "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. " He did not depend upon mere words for the verification of his doctrine.

We are much pleased to give the place of honor in this issue to our Leader's timely, brave, and significant article, "Personal Contagion," which appears above, because we look upon it as one of the most important statements of inspired truth that she has given to the world since the publication of the Christian Science text-book. We feel sure that all true Christian Scientists will so regard it and, as they ponder its vital message, they will express their gratitude for it in good works.

One of the bulwarks of Armenian theology is its doctrine of the "Freedom of the Will," and Christian Scientists not infrequently meet those who refer to it as though it were the final and entirely satisfactory solution of the deepest religious problems. It is claimed that it not only explains the origin of evil, but that it makes clear evil's present utility as a necessary test-factor in the attainment of moral character, the power of contrary choice being regarded as a prerequisite of every act of moral merit.

The dedication of the new Mother Church of the Christian Scientists in Boston is not a matter of interest to that city alone, but to the nation; not to the nation alone, but to the world; not to this time alone, but to history. The growth of this form of religious faith has been one of the marvels of the last quarter century.

The Sentinel of June 16 contains the interesting testimony of Mrs. Rowney, accompanied by a physician's letter substantiating her statements.

As the exercises in connection with the Communion, the dedication of the Extension of The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, and the Wednesday evening meetings of June 13 have been so fully reported in the Christian Science Sentinel of June 16 and 23, we shall not attempt to report them again in the Journal. There was, however, one feature of these exercises which stood out beyond all others —our Leader's Message to her Church—and this we republish on page 242.

Will our readers kindly bear in mind that the work at headquarters is necessarily divided into departments, also that by referring to the advertising pages of the Journal and Sentinel they will be able to ascertain the person or persons to whom their correspondence should be addressed in order to avoid delay. The Christian Science Publishing Society publishes and sells The Christian Science Journal, the Christian Science Sentinel, The Christian Science Quarterly, Der Herold der Christian Science, besides supplements, pamphlets, reprints, and other miscellaneous publications fully listed in our advertising pages.

At a time when the Christian Science movement is commanding an unusual amount of public attention, many are wondering just what it stands for, what it has to offer for the solution of the world's problems,—the righting of its wrongs, the alleviation of its sorrows, the relief of its pain. These queries are legitimate, and it is because Christian Science is practically addressing itself to human conditions and doing something which is positive and substantial for their betterment that it deserves and is receiving so much favorable consideration at the hands of honest truth-seekers the world over.

As the time draws nigh when the doors of the completed edifice of our Church are to be opened to its members, and also to the many who are drawn to its services by their need of that which they have failed to find elsewhere, it may well be asked, What does this stately and beautiful temple represent? One may hear the question answered by passers-by who know little of Christian Science, but who readily admit that this church was built because so many otherwise hopeless sufferers have been healed by the truth which it represents. To the student of Christian Science, however, this is but a small part of what the church stands for; to all such it represents the truth of being, an understanding of which reveals the ever-presence of the kingdom of God, —the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love.

The near approach of the annual Communion in The Mother Church undoubtedly brings to the thought of every Christian Scientist the query, "Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good?" (Science and Health, p. 496); and it is well for us that we ponder this question at this time.