Articles

Vacationing in Arizona during the autumn of the year, a student of Christian Science, wandering over the large open expanse of the desert, noticed spring flowers on all sides and in great variety. How strange, she thought, that these lovely flowers should be blooming late in the season! Upon inquiry she was told that the spring and summer had been barren, because no rains had fallen at the accustomed time.

In the pattern shop of a large manufacturing plant an employee of long standing had gained the reputation among his employers and fellow workers of being the neatest and most accurate workman in the shop. One day when the general manager was making an inspection he stopped at this patternmaker's bench and inquired of him how it was that his bench was always free of shavings and extra cuttings, and his work always accurately done.

In the Scriptural story of Cain and Abel, each brought an offering to the Lord. We read, "The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect;" and "Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Thoughtful Christians have long been aware of more than a literal meaning in the commands and assurances of Jesus to those he was about to heal. In Christian Science the larger significance of these sayings becomes increasingly plain.

It is recorded in the second chapter of the book of Joshua that the great leader of that name, following the example of Moses in similar circumstances, ''sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land" (verse 1; compare Numbers 13:17). Shittim was situated to the east of the Jordan, and the mission of the spies involved their crossing the river into the hostile territory of Canaan.

The Explanatory Note in the  Christian Science Quarterly , describes the Lesson-Sermons in these words: "The canonical writings, together with the word of our textbook, corroborating and explaining the Bible texts in their spiritual import and application to all ages, past, present, and future, constitute a sermon undivorced from truth, uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses, and divinely authorized. " Is it not obvious that the thought best adapted to assimilate and put into practice these Lesson-Sermons is that which most nearly conforms to the above description; that is—is itself free from false doctrines, hence best able to unsee their claims to reality; and is able to accept the truth of a perfect, infinite God and a sinless, perfect creation, including man? How to claim and utilize these qualities as one's own is of vital importance to students of Christian Science, for without proper receptivity to and comprehension of the texts which elucidate this Science, little genuine progress can be made in its practical demonstration.

It is generally recognized that there is but one possible correct answer to a problem in arithmetic. Such is always the case with what are called scientific problems, problems involving permanent values and fixed relationships.

The church militant is to be regarded from the human standpoint and the church triumphant from that of the absolute or real. The church militant is represented by the Christian Science organization with all its activities, designed to destroy sin, disease, and death and liberate humanity from its heavy load of materiality.

What is the general attitude of the well-balanced Christian Scientist toward active military duty? Faced with this problem in mortal experience, many have gained an intelligent answer for themselves; but others, perhaps beginners in their study of Science, have found it difficult to adjust their perception of spiritual truths to the exigencies of material warfare. Yet for the sake of the morale of all concerned, confused attitudes should be cleared up and replaced with positive convictions, with the dauntless courage and determination which the hour demands.

Participating in a war effort differs in most respects from that of peace. Yet in human experience both peace and war have certain things in common.