Articles

IN fulfilling the request made by The Christian Science Board of Directors of The Mother Church to the branch churches that they send in to The Mother Church historical sketches of the beginning and development of their church organizations, far more is involved than the simple chronicling of names, dates, and events. To one who is asked to narrate such a history the question at once arises, Where shall it begin? Thought is led back to the earlier workers, to missionary work in the Field, and to many incidents that contributed to the formation of a branch church.

THE redemptive work that is being done by Christian Science in many public institutions is an activity which draws favorable comment from officials in those places. In penitentiaries and reformatories, through the ministrations of Christian Science, sin and disease are healed, hatred, sullenness, and despair are overcome, some social outcasts regain their self-respect; and, what is perhaps of chief importance, increasing numbers of men and women, boys and girls, when they leave those places of confinement are mentally equipped to withstand such evil influences as had caused their downfall.

SCRIPTURAL prophecies led the ancient Hebrews to hope for a Messiah who should redeem them from all evil; and Scriptural promises increased the expectations of those who looked for the anointed one. When Jesus was born, the prophecies and promises were summarized in the angelic words, "On earth peace, good will toward men.

THE experience of our Master, Christ Jesus, and of his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before his crucifixion furnishes a valuable lesson. It illustrates the fact, as taught in Christian Science, that salvation is individual, and that individual mental work or prayer is necessary.

WHAT a glorious example of unwavering trust and complete reliance on his Father's unerring wisdom the Psalmist expressed in these precious words: "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart"! Unquestionably, it was Christ Jesus' life-mission to do the will of his Father. A close study of the Gospels reveals the fact that his whole life, his teaching and works, including his victory over death, expressed his obedience to the divine will and wisdom.

IN dealing with the history of the world's progress and development, literature is rich with the courageous efforts of men to discover new lands, greater fields of expansion, more freedom of thought, and, above all, new opportunities to develop the highest concepts of living. Thus today we have a picture of the world almost totally discovered geographically, and we may be inclined to think that in this sense the human race has nothing more to discover.

ALL Christian Scientists learn that there are times in their experience when it is necessary to prove their ability correctly to apply the truth in the working out of seemingly trying problems. At such times they must be alert to see the solving of these problems as aids to progress.

ON page 181 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mrs. Eddy writes: "Progress is spiritual.

ALL through Mrs. Eddy's writings emphasis is laid upon the need of knowing what is real and detecting what is unreal.

THE complex civilization of today presents to youth, as to all, a changing order of social, economic, and governmental life which involves the fundamental relation of the individual to society. The resultant conflicting currents of thought are certainly not of the making of any one group; nevertheless, they demand of youth, as of all others, alertness and courage in making readjustments to the new order which is steadily replacing the old.