THERE is no knowledge more desirable than a scientific understanding of the spiritual forces which govern man, but up to the time of Mrs. Eddy's discovery of Christian Science in the year 1866, no knowledge seemed less attainable. The publication of her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," first gave the revelation of a governing Principle of being. Great changes have in consequence come over the thought of the world. Chance and change, failure, doubt, disease, death, have been shown to be not the ironies of fate, but the products of human ignorance of Truth. To understand the divine Principle of being, and to move in accord with it, is to have health, happiness, wisdom, peace,—all that the Christian Scientist includes in the word harmony. To be ignorant of this Principle, and therefore moved by human impulse, is to be subject to misfortune of every type and degree. The Christian Scientist progresses gradually out of the first-named condition into the second. The Science of Life, like any other science, is learned and demonstrated by degrees. Many to-day who have seen the practical results of this Science in the healing of sickness or sin, disbelieve its availability for themselves, simply because at the first attempt they have not understood it. Many Christian Scientists have experienced the same difficulty, but they have learned, through persistent experimental study of the textbook, the supreme practical worth of the understanding to be gained from it.
The criticisms made by those beginning an investigation of the subject are usually of the same character. (1) It does not agree with the reader's own preconceived ideas of Truth, or views of God. (2) It is not easily intelligible. (3) It ignores the difficulties of human existence. (4) It affirms too much in declaring that God, Spirit, is all.
With respect to the first objection it is well to remember what is required of this book,—that it is designed to meet the needs of all the world and to be read by men and women of all nations, classes, temperaments, and degrees of culture. It is not possible at the present time that any book could be written which should at once appeal to every one who reads it. Truth, being unalterable, cannot be fitted into erroneous human views, but these can be laid aside in order that Truth may be apprehended. Professor Huxley described the true attitude of the Christian Science student when he wrote, "Sit down before fact as a little child, be willing to give up every preconceived notion . . . or you shall learn nothing." The beginner may find this difficult to carry out in practice, however much it may appeal to him in theory; he may very likely consider it preposterous that the acceptance of every statement in any one book should be considered possible; doubly so in the case of a book whose contents are of such an unusual nature. To perceive to some extent the great reality behind one or two of the statements, is easier than to believe that every asserted fact can be similarly illuminated. If the assertions made were not statements of scientific fact, susceptible of proof, the claim to the discovery of absolute Truth would be worthless. This absolute certainty in regard to Truth is what the world has always sought. The extraordinary thing is that because it has never yet been found by all the sages who have sought it, people remonstrate, and say it is impossible to find it to-day; but that it has not been found hitherto is the very reason we have been searching for it, and the greater cause for thankfulness that it has been found at last. Moreover, "the new things are the old things," — newly experienced, newly applied, but themselves eternally the same; the knowledge which Mrs. Eddy has systematized to-day is the same truth that was taught and practised by Jesus two thousand years ago — "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."
