In the Glossary in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy has defined "river" (p. 593) as "channel of thought," adding, "When smooth and unobstructed, it typifies the course of Truth; but muddy, foaming, and dashing, it is a type of error." Those who have studied the Bible together with the textbook of Christian Science, gain the spiritual meaning or interpretation of the Scriptures. Thus, in connection with this definition it is of interest that our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has given us the spiritual meaning of several rivers mentioned in the Bible. One of these, Gihon, referred to in Genesis as one of four branches of a river that "went out of Eden," is defined in the Glossary (p. 587) as "the rights of woman acknowledged morally, civilly, and socially."
Christian Science brings to human consciousness the understanding that "the rights of woman," emanating from God, the one source of good, are established and maintained through spiritual law, and are not dependent on mere human opinion or human codes. These rights, therefore, are understood through an apprehension of God's nature, as revealed in Christian Science. A true or correct understanding of God includes an understanding of His perfect spiritual creation, whereby is seen and acknowledged the spiritual status of man, as God's idea or reflection. In His creation there is nothing ignoble, unjust, or with binding chains of limitation.
This revelation is today bearing fruit in the transformation of human thought, whereby mortal sense is giving place to divine reality. The mortal qualities are being displaced, the moral gained, and thought is attaining more nearly to the spiritually true concept of being. Increasingly we see the evidences of divine Love made manifest in spiritual qualities. Constancy, purity, tenderness, unselfed affection, gentleness, kindness, spiritual love—these are some of the myriad qualities and attributes seen as the rightful heritage of the sons and daughters of God.
