Articles

There are few things which have a greater appeal to mankind than the desire for freedom. The child, at a very early age, may often pit his little human will against that of constituted authority, known to him probably as the laws and regulations made by his parents and teachers.

The divine demand to be perfect has been recognized by all devout Christians. In turn, many of them have been forced to the recognition that creeds and dogmas offer no practical means of attaining perfection.

It is not an unusual occurrence for a person to be an heir to an estate and yet know nothing of it. Therefore, as it is the policy of the law that no one shall be deprived of any right without an opportunity to be heard, it is generally provided by statute that before a will may be probated, or an estate administered, notice of some kind must be given to the heirs, so that if they desire they may claim their inheritance.

Among the many inspiring statements that may be found in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, perhaps there is none more calculated to restore hope and courage to the fainting heart than the one to be found on page 74 , which reads, "In Christian Science there is never a retrograde step, never a return to positions outgrown. " This statement presupposes of necessity that before there can be a retrograde step there must first have been a forward movement, a reaching out to and an attaining of a position in advance of that previously taken.

" Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice," was the admonition of Paul, that pioneer of the early church; and with equal earnestness Christian Science to-day invites all mankind to do likewise. To one who thinks himself imprisoned, however, in the shackles of sickness or a victim of poverty or unemployment, it may seem difficult logically to comply with such a demand, particularly if one is accustomed to rejoice after, rather than before, a demonstration is made.

Mankind, enlightened spiritually, has long sung praises of God's goodness. The Bible is full of the praises of the Lord.

Among the fundamental facts first grasped by those embracing the study of Christian Science is this: that all law governing and sustaining man and the universe is inherent in the divine Mind. Also, earnest and faithful study soon reveals the fact that divine law operates entirely apart from human effort, will, or policy.

Man , the Bible teaches, is created "in the image of God," of Spirit. Manifestly, then, man is in reality spiritual.

When the Lord sent him on his mission to free the children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage, Moses said unto God: "Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?" And we read, "God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. " This mission of Moses, the obedient servant of God, was certainly a mission of love; for to free the Israelites from hard, unjust labor, in the midst of sin, idolatry, and estrangement from the true, living God, was seemingly a very difficult task, one that needed the inspiration of love under God's protecting care.

Any world-wide anniversary necessarily carries its own message, and it devolves on those who perpetuate the day to proclaim that message in its entirety, in its full, undivided form; and unless this is faithfully done, the returning period will lose something of its significance. Mankind knows many anniversaries, but there is one which overtops them all.