How constantly to-day arises the demand for something constructive—not for mere theory, but for proof-positive methods! And surely it is being more widely realized in the marts of the world, as well as in the councils of diplomatists, that a system of ruthless competition—the greed and grasp method —is wholly destructive, and can never build up permanent business or friendly international relations. In the realm of art and education, are not insincerities, sprung from servile adherence to empty conventions, now more often swept aside by the urge for constructive criticism and a truly serviceable culture? In the world of religion, he who runs may read that dogmatic shibboleth and cant are going down before the more insistent cry for something constructive and practical, for a religion that works, which can be none other than a religion of works.
The very core of the message of Christian Science is contained in a passage which answers this half-challenging, half-demanding world cry for something constructive. On page 369 of her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," under the marginal note "Man's entity," Mrs. Eddy advances a remarkable statement, the truth of which will be found leavening all the strata of human endeavor to-day— theology, so-called natural science, medicine, art, business. She declares: "In proportion as matter loses to human sense all entity as man, in that proportion does man become its master. He enters into a diviner sense of the facts, and comprehends the theology of Jesus as demonstrated in healing the sick, raising the dead, and walking over the wave." And she crowns the whole with the logical summary: "All these deeds manifested Jesus' control over the belief that matter is substance, that it can be the arbiter of life or the constructor of any form of existence."
To the wistful, ever entreating question echoed by John the Baptist's disciples, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"—that is, Art thou the authorized representative of Truth, or have we still to seek?—Jesus made the only answer possible, the answer of works. Not by "enticing words of man's wisdom," mere intellectualism, ethical human helpfulness, or mystical doctrine, did the great Nazarene answer them; but by calling their attention to his scientific demonstrations of the one power, the one Mind, the only arbiter of life, the one constructor of existence, he sought to convince them of his genuine Messiahship.
