"When men are cast down"! These words, written many centuries ago, are yet vividly descriptive of the human race today, when men seem cast down into the slough of materialism, where values are valueless and reasoning is based on a confusion of false concepts; when men's hearts are failing them for fear and they are crying, "Is there no way out?" How radiantly shines the promise of old, the promise which is finding its fulfillment today, "When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up"!
The Church of Christ, Scientist, is saying to the world today: Here is lifting up, lifting up out of fear into faith, out of stress into peace, out of greed into glory, out of lust into purity, out of hate into love, out of death into life. Here, in the revelation of Truth, is lifting up into complete salvation for all mankind.
It may be asked, What is the Church of Christ, Scientist, that it may with confidence hold out so comprehensive a promise to humanity? It is that Church which is founded upon the teachings and in a degree repeating the works of the master Scientist, Christ Jesus. The truth revealed in Christian Science is operating in human consciousness, dispelling ignorance and superstition and their attendant illusions of fear, sin, disease, and death. Its ministry is based on the intelligence of Mind, which reveals the nothingness of evil and demonstrates the allness of good. On page 6 of "Pulpit and Press" Mrs. Eddy speaks of "the church established by the Nazarene Prophet and maintained on the spiritual foundation of Christ's healing." When the Science of divine Principle was revealed to Mary Baker Eddy, she founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, for the spreading of this revelation and its establishment in the hearts of men. To Christian Scientists she left this demonstration to be maintained in its purity and in increasing growth of healing power and prestige. Only as the spiritual factor is put first; only as the Christidea of goodness, mercy, justice, love, and spiritual understanding motivates and directs every activity of the organization, is the organization proved to be safe. The divine Mind alone safeguards it; and through it is disseminated the truth revealed in Christian Science, reaching human consciousness and sweeping away "the refuge of lies."
