An experienced traveler prepares himself in advance for a visit to a new country. He studies simpler aspects of the language, the geography, and the customs of the people and may, by means of maps of the principal cities, be able to orient himself so that later, when he threads his way through a city's streets, it will be as if he had been there previously. This is a method being used in the present conflict. Men are being instructed by lectures on orientation. These men are learning languages, customs, and localities, so that when they land by ship, plane, or parachute in countries to be reclaimed from enemy occupation, they will be on familiar ground.
A partial definition of the verb "orient" is "to set in any certain position in relation to the points of the compass . . .; to set right by adjusting to facts or principles." Viewed spiritually, this is the educational process which a Christian Scientist is carrying on. His endeavor is to set his thought right in relation to Principle, God, the author and source of his being. He perceives with increasing clarity that the eternal, unvarying, and absolute truth is set forth in the Bible, and is unlocked for this age and succeeding ages by "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. He sees that the kingdom of heaven, or God's universe, is his real destination. He glimpses the fact that he is, in reality, already within it, since there is in fact no other place in which to dwell; but he also recognizes that he must go through what seems to be a process of learning the ways of this kingdom before he can experience the joys of his spiritual citizenship. To prepare himself he is learning the language of Spirit. He is learning to orient himself to the realm where God reigns supreme.
It is noticeable that Mrs. Eddy employed what is known as the Socratic method in teaching—that is, the question and answer method. This is exemplified in the chapter "Recapitulation" in Science and Health, in the chapter entitled "Questions and Answers" in "Miscellaneous Writings," and in many other portions of her works. In analyzing these answers the student recognizes that they are usually given in two modes: that of statements setting forth absolute, unvarying, eternal truth, without relation to progressive human footsteps toward perfection, and that mode which sets forth the Christ-method by which we may take the human footsteps enabling us to rise from the unreal to the real—from where we seem to be in the dream of life apart from Principle to where we eternally are, in the realm of reality. These two modes must be clearly understood by the student who is learning the new tongue which the Master promised to his followers. He not only said, "In my name shall they cast out devils," but with equal authority said, "They shall speak with new tongues." While we are learning and using the language of Spirit, great wisdom must be exercised when speaking with those who do not understand the new tongue, and who would be confused by its use.
