The world has heard much of victory within the past few years. For a while, in the dark days of the late war, when civilization itself seemed to be fighting with its "back to the wall," there was little talk of victory. Defeat seemed to be in the air. Men's hearts trembled as the fate of nations apparently hung in the balance. Yet, the tide turned. That great moment arrived when an armistice was signed, when peace dawned, when victory illumined the earth. Since then there have been constant statements concerning victory and the victors,—of triumph, of earthly glory, of great fame, of worldly distinction gained on the field of battle.
Yet, the world has not attained real peace; and out of the political and economic turmoil we hear again an old warning, uttered in varying forms and at different times, to the effect that the most dangerous moment of all is the moment of victory. There is a word signifying supreme success far beyond any mere human triumph, which is conspicuously absent in all the pæans of victory with which we have grown familiar. The word is "exaltation;" and it may be found as part of Mrs. Eddy's definition of "ark," as given in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 581), where she says, "The ark indicates temptation overcome and followed by exaltation."
In the Science of Christianity, where man is found in the image and likeness of God, perfect and eternal, all merely personal and temporary sense of triumph or victory disappears in a higher, spiritual understanding of what triumph really is. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, discerning this spiritual understanding through an inspired metaphysical discernment that was the outcome of many years of patient study, prayer, and demonstration, has shown in all her writings a remarkable perception of terms for correct expression of spiritual verities; and the use of the word "exaltation" in this definition is a case in point.
