In the Preface of "Pulpit and Press" Mary Baker Eddy looked ahead to the time when the Science she discovered in 1866— Christian Science—would have been known in the world for a century. The children of the late nineteenth century would then be twentieth century elders. She says, "It will then be instructive to turn backward the telescope of that advanced age, with its lenses of more spiritual mentality, indicating the gain of intellectual momentum, on the early footsteps of Christian Science as planted in the pathway of this generation; to note the impetus thereby given to Christianity; to con the facts surrounding the cradle of this grand verity—that the sick are healed and sinners saved, not by matter, but by Mind; and to scan further the features of the vast problem of eternal life, as expressed in the absolute power of Truth and the actual bliss of man's existence in Science." Pul.,p. vii;
Are the lenses of mentality more spiritual now than they were then—in 1866? The changes which have taken place in the world indicate that they are, for a great "gain of intellectual momentum" has taken place. The Christ, revealed in its universal sense, has touched humanity and released in a measure the unlimited powers of intelligence which man made in God's likeness reflects. Mankind are bringing their material environment under control, and this is one step out of materialism, which defies the truth of Spirit's allness and the spiritual nature of God's creation.
A century ago, technology had taken only feeble steps in the controlling of matter compared with the advanced strides it is taking today. One of the great functions of Truth is to uncover error; and the influence of divine Science on the natural sciences has had the effect of disclosing the nature of matter in such a way as to make it controllable. Perhaps Christ Jesus was thinking of this development when he said, "There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known."Luke 12:2;
