To the ancient Hebrews the lion was a symbol of strength, and the king of beasts is still regarded with some awe by the peoples of today. Fearlessly it impresses its authority as it ranges within its realm. In the great concert of Africa's night, with its myriad exciting sounds of insect, bird, and beast, there is always one sound that will silence them all, even the insects: the roar of a lion.
Mrs. Eddy uses the symbolism of the lion's authority where she says in Science and Health (p. 514): "Moral courage is 'the lion of the tribe of Juda,' the king of the mental realm. Free and fearless it roams in the forest. Undisturbed it lies in the open field, or rests in 'green pastures, ... beside the still waters.'"
Moral courage is a mental quality opening the way to spiritual understanding and causing human thought to progress upward to the reality of all goodness, purity, and perfection. It is therefore necessary to Christian Scientists in their advance against the aggressive beliefs of mortal mind which confront mankind. This quality enables us to stand for the right against every wrong, for the good against all threat of evil, regardless of the consequences and defiant of error's opposition. It is of great importance in today's world of aggressive beliefs, which would ravage every influence for good that challenges evil's despotism.
