The record of Christian Science is not unlike that of other religious histories in point of experience. Annals of the past show that each decade has registered a like proportion of friends and foes of every cause,—faithful followers and pronounced traitors. Each epoch has had its leader, and each leader had a peculiar and definite outline of action for the march of spiritual progress.
Christian Scientists, as a people, have the same experience, and in our pilgrimage Zionward we encounter danger and disaster,—sometimes to the point of loss,—but never signal defeat. The most regrettable feature which characterizes our ranks today recalls the contest of old, with its rival strivings for mastery and greatness. Students will do well to bear in mind our blessed Master's warning, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." This Scripture means practically, to each individual today, all that it implies, in its relative bearing towards the Truth as Divine Science, and towards its rightful Discoverer. This reappearing of the Spirit of Truth, or the Comforter, must needs be through a personality whose spiritual thought would proclaim genuineness; else, as Paul declared, "How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (ROMANS X. 14.)
Students, the world over, attest the fact of God's provision in this particular, while the emanation of Truth, as given in Science and Health shows its author to be speaking in demonstration of the Spirit and with power. Who will dare to come forward and say she has stolen this spiritual experience, which only God bestows? As the disciples were taught of old the Truth of spiritualized Being, so are students taught today, and commissioned to go forth and preach the Gospel with signs following, as declared in Mark xvi. 17, 18. Applicants come into this study from all parts of the country, mainly as strangers; and those are accepted as students who are believed to answer truthfully the stated questions and comply with the conditions. They are taught the allness of Truth and Love, and the nothingness of error, and shown how to make the supremacy of the former apparent in human experience. With what eagerness do they strive to grasp its fulness, crowning their faithful Teacher with the highest expressions of gratitude and love, for her marvellous sacrifices to meet the wants of humanity.
