THE purpose of the student of Christian Science may be comprehensively described as healing practice. He takes up the study of this Science with the expectation that it will produce a definite, practical result in his human experience, providing a method of correct thinking and wise acting which will enable him to surmount the limitations and difficulties of mortal existence. He expects the knowledge gained from this study to apply as practically and positively to his problems as do the rules of architecture and engineering to the design and erection of a building.
The practice of Christian Science is founded upon the basic facts of the spiritual nature of all real being and the nonexistence of matter as substance, facts that seem revolutionary to the human consciousness. In "the scientific statement of being" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 468) Mrs. Eddy states the basic facts of being, facts which modern savants are beginning to approach in their theories, a number of the most advanced investigators recognizing the mental nature of all things. Her teachings show true creation to be wholly spiritual, the emanation of divine Mind. She says (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 357): "Spirit is infinite; therefore Spirit is all. 'There is no matter' is not only the axiom of true Christian Science, but it is the only basis upon which this Science can be demonstrated." Jesus knew the truth of being, and many of the inspired prophets glimpsed it, but it remained for the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science to elucidate it so clearly as to enable us to put the knowledge into practice.
The world owes a debt of gratitude to our Leader, not only for the discovery of the Science of being, but also for establishing a movement designed to put the understanding of it into effective practice. Every activity of the Church of Christ, Scientist, exists for the purpose of making the truths of Christian Science available to mankind, to the end that the difficulties and limitations placed upon the human race by materialistic thinking and living may be overcome through applied spiritual understanding.
