An acquaintance with the affairs of the world to-day, if it does nothing else, reveals beyond all cavil that humanity is sorely in need of help; for it seems that never in mortal history has there been more of woe and human misery than to-day, and never before have so many sufferers cried out to be delivered from their distresses, and hungered so for something—they know not what. Every day brings to us new examples of this great hunger, and every hour we are reminded of the counsel of our revered Leader, found on page 570 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she says: "Millions of unprejudiced minds— simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert—are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences."
With that keen spiritual vision which enabled her to look beyond matter and into the great verity of being, Mrs. Eddy understood, as no other since the time of Jesus has understood, the real nature of Love, and the great need of humanity for that understanding of Love which alone is able to lift men out of their material selfhood and to deliver them from their trouble. Throughout all her writings we find the burden of her teachings, like those of the Master, summed up in these words from John: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you,"—meaning that by manifesting the right kind, which as a matter of thoroughly established fact is the only kind of love, we shall by that very manifestation and reflection bring the understanding of divine Love within the comprehension of our own consciousness, thus coming to understand its nature more and more, and consequently to understand the grand reality of being. And our brothers, beholding this manifestation, and feeling as they must its sweet and healing influence, will be lifted up to the realization that Love is indeed a real entity, and in this uplifted consciousness their fears and ills will vanish and they, too, will sight here and now the promised land of Spirit.
There are many thousands in the world to-day who, through the understanding of Christian Science, have felt the beneficent influence and the healing power of Love in their own lives, as witness the testimonies appearing in all of our periodicals, and those given every week in our Wednesday evening meetings. And to-day, when the need of humanity is so apparent, opportunities are offered daily and hourly for every one of us who have felt that influence and that power, to show forth our gratitude for its blessings by freely giving of that Love which we have so freely received. By thus doing we give a constant testimony, and as Mrs. Eddy says (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 24), "More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, 'who healeth all thy diseases' (Psalm 103:3)." And so each and every one of us may have a part, a very great part, in the wonderful work of alleviating the woes of mankind.
