On Easter Sunday, in the year of our Lord 1902, First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Concord, New Hampshire, was privileged to receive a message direct from the beloved Leader of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy. Her letter began thus: "Beloved Brethren:—May this glad Easter morn find the members of this dear church having a pure peace, a fresh joy, a clear vision of heaven here,—heaven within us,—and an awakened sense of the risen Christ" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 155). Well may all of Mrs. Eddy's followers ponder the inspirational benediction of this prayer as another Easter season dawns. "A pure peace, a fresh joy"! Does not a darkened, war-scarred humanity sorely need such a vision?
But is it possible, or is it right, one may ask, for any inhabitant of this topsy-turvy globe to claim or even hope for such a benison at this tumultuous hour? A moment's reflection would surely bring forth the rejoinder that this, of all periods in the world's history, is the time for spiritualization of thought, for the uplifting of human consciousness. Does not the recurring Eastertide bespeak renewal, regeneration, revivified hope? In the words of Chaucer,
The season pricketh every gentle heart,
And maketh him out of his sleep to start.
