In contemplating defense against invasion, one naturally turns his thought toward the meaning of the word "invasion." In addition to the meaning "encroachment," there is the following enlightening dictionary definition: "The incoming, or first attack, of anything hurtful." The first attack of anything injurious is not a physical experience. Invasion can come to a person or to a nation only when the bars of spiritual understanding are lowered, and erring mortal thought is allowed to enter in.
The accepted belief is that invasion of a nation to its destruction is by a power which is outside the nation and which is entering in to destroy. In "Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy," Irving C. Tomlinson says (p. 85):
"At a meeting of the National Christian Scientist Association held April 13, 1887, a question was asked Mrs. Eddy which 'related to the prayer of Abraham, that if fifty, or even ten righteous men could be found in Sodom, that city should be saved from destruction.'
