SCARCELY two thirds of a century has passed since a little band of pioneer Christian Scientists first took their stand for the scientific revelation of Truth before a doubting world and organized The Mother Church. Gradually, through convincing demonstration of the practical power of the interpretation of the Scriptures revealed to their Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, they won increasing numbers to their Cause, and today Christian Science is regarded by a large proportion of informed and unbiased people as one of the respected religions of the world.
The early Christian Science workers demonstrated the power of their religion to a marked degree because the trials attendant upon their efforts compelled them to lay aside worldly ambitions and desires and to work constantly for the preservation of their Cause against the most malicious attacks of error. We may well marvel at the fortitude of these pioneer Christian Scientists; but do we always realize that today we need fully as much spiritual stamina—and perhaps even more alertness—to meet those deadening forms of worldliness which attach themselves to human popularity and success?
Since the vitality of the Cause of Christian Science depends on the consecration, humility, spiritual understanding, and demonstration of the individual Christian Scientist, it is highly important that each member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, be constantly alert. This is a full-time task, for the carnal mind seems always to be putting forth a plausible misrepresentation of spiritual facts. Scientific Christianity has uncovered the methods of evil as an impersonal mental force that claims to operate sometimes aggressively and sometimes subtly. It is constant in its arguments to make men believe in a counterfeit material creation peopled by good and bad mortal beings and governed by as many minds as persons. This unreal activity in all its phases Mary Baker Eddy calls by the inclusive term "animal magnetism."
