The eager student, as he progresses in his demonstration of Christian Science, is sometimes prone to feel pride in his successful proving rather than gratitude for divine guidance. It is mortal mind which prompts such elation, and not the spirit of Truth. Constant humbleness of mind shows one the need to substitute gratitude for personal pride in one's ability to apply the truth and demonstrate its power.
A young man, although brought up from childhood in Christian Science, allowed his knowledge of Christian Science to lie dormant when he was at college and during his first months in the Army, which he joined immediately after college. He thought he was satisfied with convenient half-truths, and found little interest in the investigation and pursuit of the teachings of Christian Science. His beliefs and convictions slipped far below what he knew was right. He even allowed himself recourse in the Army to minor material remedies which he thought were convenient to him. In general he was slovenly in his application of what he knew to be the divine Principle of all real life.
This condition continued over a period of years, until he lost sight of the vitality of Christian Science. The student tried to expound his small knowledge in an erudite display of words. As an officer in the Army he became more and more proud of what he felt was his superior knowledge of Christian Science, but actually he was applying human will to problems and then calling the result Christian Science demonstration.
