Articles

WE commence our work for the church more specifically when, after a preparatory period, we become members of the organization which our Leader has provided for the Christian Science movement, and begin to undertake our share of its responsibilities. We may find it difficult at first to express our reasons for wishing to become part of the Christian Science movement.

WE are told by Matthew that when the people had listened to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount they "were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. " The office of the scribe was to write, teach, and interpret the Mosaic law.

OUR great Exemplar, Christ Jesus, defined our duty to our fellowmen in two sentences of three words each. Perhaps nowhere does language more tersely phrase man's right activity.

IT is well to observe the aim and purpose of mankind in general, to note the goal for which humanity seems to be striving, and then to consider how we may proceed to attain the definite goal of harmony through the better understanding of God. Each one has some objective, however indefinite it may appear to be.

THE full import of our Leader's wise admonition in Article XXIV, Section 5, of the Church Manual, under the caption "God's Requirement," did not dawn upon the writer's thought until after prayerful study of the By-law, which is as follows: "God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist. " The By-law received only superficial notice at first; and it was thought obedience to it was being rendered by complying with a mere human observance of the qualities called for.

THERE are probably few stories in the Bible more touching than the brief history of Onesimus, told in Paul's letter to Philemon of Colosse. The apostle was "a prisoner of Jesus Christ," in bonds for the gospel in a Roman prison, when he wrote to this early Christian convert, who was himself also standing firmly for Christ Jesus' teaching, holding meetings of his fellow-Christians in his own house, and spreading the gospel to others.

ONE of the greatest joys the Christian Scientist experiences is in learning to see opportunity for demonstration in a "problem," as there dawns upon him something of the realization of God's ever present, available help. He can say with Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

THINKING people, generally, agree that most men desire to excel in, to perfect, to accomplish something worth while. With efficiency as a keynote, and invention and education joining hands, the world's workers seem to a considerable extent to have mastered the air, overcome the wave, harnessed the lightning,—in short, dominated the things of the earth,—wonderful achievements in the material sphere of action! But the pride of physical accomplishment alone can never satisfy the longing of the seeker for Truth.

IT is recorded of Jesus, in the gospel of Matthew, that he was "led up of the spirit into the wilderness," and that he was there for forty days. At the end of the forty days, he had completed a wonderful demonstration.

A CHILD awakening during the night saw the bright moon shining through the window, and on the floor the moving shadow of a rocking chair. Becoming frightened, he began to cry; others were awakened, and the child was quickly told that there was nothing to be afraid of, as it was only a shadow that moved.