WHEN Mrs. Eddy discovered Christian Science, the revelation included far more than merely finding out for herself how Christ Jesus healed the sick: it also embraced the idea that the kingdom of heaven would be appreciably advanced on earth by teaching others how this is done. Accordingly, in developing the cause she established a department of healing and the equally important department of teaching; and it came about that it was as a teacher that she pioneered Christian Science healing everywhere, and planted and watered the great field of awakening thought. The by-laws of The Mother Church provide for the teaching of students, and this provision is evidence that teaching is still regarded as useful.
The writings of Mrs. Eddy are especially adapted for self-healing and self -instruction in Christian Science. With some individuals the study of her writings is alone sufficient to establish their health, and also to enlighten them in large measure in the practice of Christian healing; but with many, additional advantage is gained by securing the services of a practitioner where healing is needed, or of a teacher to instruct them. Spiritual teaching is as old as divine inspiration itself. The lawgiver, prophet, and apostle, the beloved minister of the sanctuary, and the dear mother at whose knee a child has learned priceless lessons,—all these were spiritual teachers, and they owe their renown and the lasting veneration in which their memories are held to the degree in which they have met the ever crying human need of spiritual instruction.
In Christ Jesus human teaching reached its spiritual ideal; the benign demonstration which in his case invariably accompanied it was the natural outcome of the unusual purity of his spiritual sense. He was pure enough to perceive the mental qualities which are immortal, and which when humanly recognized are seen indeed to be Immanuel, "God with us'" He was pure enough to receive and impart the sense of health and life that are eternal, and this sense was to him inseparable from man's true being. His purity enabled him to enthrone this sense so as to subdue material conditions for himself and also for others; it permitted him to understand the very nature of the mistaken convictions which compose the physical body and which make it mortal, and also how to overcome them. He also taught his disciples in some measure how to do this. Jesus, as a teacher, seems to have been utterly without desire for any popular benefit that might accrue to himself personally: he appears to have had no other thought than to promote the welfare of his followers by establishing the kingdom of God in the affections of those prepared to receive it, and this holy human ideal appears in the lives of all others who teach mankind the sense of health and life, which are indeed eternal.
