IN studying the record of creation, as found in the first chapter of Genesis, the question naturally arises as to why the chronological order seems reversed, in such a text as, "The evening and the morning were the first day." A little investigation, however, shows that the Hebrews recorded the passing of time from sundown to sundown; so that the evening literally precedes the morning in their diary of human events. A remnant of this custom may still be found in our own calendar, where Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are celebrated on the evenings before Christmas and New Year's Day respectively.
In the light of Christian Science one looks beyond the literal to find the spiritual meaning of things, and one's search is rewarded by referring to the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, where the following metaphysical interpretation of "evening" is found in part (p. 586): "Mistiness of mortal thought; weariness of mortal mind; obscured views." Again, turning to the word "morning" (p. 591), we find this illuminating definition: "Light; symbol of Truth; revelation and progress."
Those who are seeking this true light through the aid of Christian Science find that the evening of some false belief invariably precedes the morning of clearer and more spiritual views. This fact is illustrated by Mrs. Eddy in her autobiography, "Retrospection and Introspection," in that wonderful chapter, "Emergence into Light," where she tells of the dark hours through which she passed prior to the advent of the revelation of Christian Science.
