Whenever one has been entertained for a few hours or longer by a friend, he seeks to impress upon the host his gratefulness for the hospitality and good cheer extended to him. In a greater measure do we constantly feel it a duty to express our appreciation of the exceedingly helpful publications of our Church, those welcome visitors which entertain us instead of being entertained by us. Next to that most wonderful and inspiring volume, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy (which has become our pocket companion in travel over the country, as also in home life), we must class The Christian Science Publishing Society's weekly, monthly, quarterly, and current publications in what attracts us principally,—their scope, power, and richness for good. They are certainly twice blessed; first to those who provide such illumined, authentic truths, and next to those who read and profit thereby. What a grand uplifting would there be if a copy could be placed in the home of every family thirsting after that unseen "water of life," which to many of us is flowing freely, even to the extent that our cup is running over.
At present our ideals are much higher than our achievements, but, like St. Paul, one may say, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after;" and he follows after the grand, uplifting thoughts of our beloved Leader, and seeks to emulate her in patience, forbearance, meekness, humility, and self-sacrifice, as well as in forgiveness for grievous words and acts against such a Sweet, harmonious life. If we have not reached perfectness in all things, we are seeking to attain completeness in some, and to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," as did Paul. One becomes singularly happy in the quiet perusal of the sweet, pure, and inspiring pages of Mrs. Eddy's works. Each and every reading of them—and it matters not how often it be repeated—seems to bring out more fully than the preceding one the promise given at the start. Each day opens up new vistas of thought which elevate, ennoble, and inspire us to a fuller consciousness of the divine Love that fills all space and leaves nothing for which we would ask. As we realize man's divine heritage, that "in him [God] we live, and move, and have our being," we are not only thrilled but molded, mentally and physically, into refined graces which are especially noticeable to those who hold a worldly view, and who wonder at the marked change.
One cannot refrain from expressing pleasure at the mental profit gained by following in the unselfish work begun by Mrs. Eddy and, under her direction, carried on by her earlier faithful students, who had little human aid when working "against the world, the flesh, and the devil." That we are becoming better men and women from the perusal of Christian Science literature goes without saying, for it cannot but turn our thoughts heavenward, to follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, and of that faithful disciple, our Leader. And American people stand so much in need of more elevating literature in lie of the trashy, nauseating delineation of crime and of characters and phases of life dealing with the questionable side, as given in our large dailies and magazines, that it does one good to see the effect of Christian Science on the minds of many, who suddenly drop such reading after getting a glimpse of the truth in our publications. It is the same action of Truth that has caused so many men to drop their tobacco and liquor,—habits which had grown upon them so that they fairly trembled at times, when they acknowledged the yoke of bondage, and yet by some—to them mystic—process they forsook the evil, or it forsook them, and there was no longer even a lingering desire for it, but a supreme happiness without it. Of such we may well say, "Being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." To such an one have we frequently quoted another of Paul's sayings, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
