In a recent book the descriptive phrase "an arm-chair Christian" is used; and it may well be applied to some Christian Scientists who have long been resting, resting in the deep comfort of our Leader's demonstration, and, with all her blessed books telling of Truth and Love in a little rack close beside them, have—to turn about an old quotation—dreamed noble things, not done them, all day long. But how our Leader stresses the demand of Science for demonstration! "Be active," is her rallying cry. She says, "Be active, and, however slow, thy success is sure: toil is triumph; and—thou hast been faithful over a few things" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 340). Could there be a message more heartening? However long or twisting and twining the problem may seem, each effort to reach the Christ-way of solving it— though it be a faltering effort—cannot fail to bring the triumph of added assurance.
On page 204 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader has used the phrase "deep-toned faith in God." Each demonstration leads to this, the scientific certainty by which we prove that what we name Christian Science is in very fact Science,— divine, immutable, absolute, glorious, bringing out sure harmony throughout all the variations in human affairs. If we could but realize more constantly and clearly that demonstration does not consist in making anything different, but in bringing out that which is, by means of the activity in human thought of the divine Principle of all harmony,—the divine Principle which silences the discords of sense, one jarring note after another, until the rhythm of Spirit becomes manifest! In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 510) our Leader has told us, "To discern the rhythm of Spirit and to be holy, thought must be purely spiritual."
Such spirituality of thought, constantly, steadfastly, applied to every experience, brings out scientifically by means of its fixed Principle all the sweet concord of true being, the eternal reality and unity and continuity of good. There is nothing comparable to the joy of discerning the rhythm of Spirit; and no theoretical arm-chair meditation can sound it.
Just as the musician practices over and over, and continually adds to whatever he has acquired of the science of music, so the student of divine Science endeavors unremittingly to use whatever of Truth he has accepted. The only activity there is or can be, we know, is in divine Mind; and the quiet hours spent by the practitioner in the office, and by all true Christian Scientists in the home, the Reading Rooms, wherever and whenever they can, bear fruit; but the arm-chair sort of ecstatic reverie over our Leader's mighty achievement, without bringing the purified thought to bear definitely upon some problem, individual or collective, is not the toil which brings triumph.
Now that our Leader, through her supreme revelation and years of ceaseless toil, has applied the Science of Truth to the discordant claims of error, the complex clang seeks harder than ever to drown the rhythm of Spirit. Never was "deep-toned faith in God" more greatly needed to demonstrate the triune Principle of Life, Truth, and Love, and make manifest the law-governed reality of spiritual existence. It is imperatively incumbent upon each Christian Scientist, from the very humblest follower to the most tried disciple of Mrs. Eddy's teaching, to rally to her standard, and obediently work, work, work!
They of the plush rocker type are finding it harder and harder to keep rocking these days. More and more in the thought of the world the arm-chair Christian is being forced into activity, where he must use faithfully, constantly, fearlessly, whatever of Truth and Love he has in the least degree acquired. With all the humanitarian endeavor,—never so widespread as now,—faith in material methods is breaking down, and the complete fallacy of matter is being pressed home to the heart of humanity.
Medical practice frankly admits that it has arrived at no solution whereby some of the most serious forms of disease can ever hope to be cured, or more than temporarily relieved. With war, pestilence, and famine, and the world-cry of the little children sending their unanswerable challenge to material methods, there should be no arm-chair Christian Scientist; but each must endeavor to the very utmost to triumph through toil. We must not and we cannot judge, however, of another's effort. Some may recall the story of those who lived and labored in a sterile land and finally, by dint of much toil, garnered a small heap of fruit, which they bore, in deep thankfulness, to give to the distant king, whose gardens were filled with rich fruitage; but how precious, how dearly won, was the humble offering none but themselves, the toilers in a sterile land, could know! It is not for us to judge or outline, but to work!
Only through Christian Science can the heavy-laden world come to understand our Saviour's blessed demand and assurance when he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The coming is by way of divine Science; the highest, more perfect rest is in the demonstration thereof.
I cannot help telling the truth as I view it, describing what I see. To describe it otherwise than it seems to me would be falsehood in that calling in which it has pleased Heaven to place me; treason to that conscience which says . . . that truth must be told, that faults must be owned, that pardon must be prayed for, and that Love reigns over all.—
