Articles

The proverb which describes the human struggle against poverty and want as an effort to "keep the wolf from the door" hints a deeper metaphysical truth than may be commonly supposed. Poverty of any form, whether it be want of means, of health, or of happiness, like all material phenomena, is the manifestation of some erroneous state of mortal thought which is, as Christian Science shows, mentally produced.

One of the first things which the investigator of Christian Science learns is the startling proposition that God is all, that God is good, and that everything God has made is like Himself, good, and without taint of evil. Immediately the investigator asks: If God created all and made it good, where did evil come from? At some time in his experience every Christian Scientist has had to answer this question to the satisfaction of himself and others; and in order to do so he has been obliged to reach that point of spiritual understanding where he has been able to perceive to some degree the scientific fact that as evil is a lie or a false claim, from the standpoint of truth and reality evil never came from anywhere.

The word "definition" becomes pregnant with far-reaching significance to those who study Christian Science with the consecrated desire to know the truth which shall make them free. With this end in view, it is an important factor toward progress to define what giving really means.

Many times I have been able to testify to the healing power of Truth and Love as understood in Christian Science. Lately, however, I have become conscious of the healing influence of the literature, which I feel should be gratefully acknowledged.

To finite sense there is no perfect man. To spiritual sense there is no other man.

The realization that in the case of every human problem involving disease, sorrow, or pain, it is possible to receive an angel message which, if heard and trusted, will utterly annihilate the beliefs that would undo us, is something to be most grateful for. Mrs.

" Good thoughts are potent; evil thoughts are impotent, and they should appear thus" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 252 ).

The Scriptural statements which relate to overcoming imply that something which is hindering activity and impeding progress must be removed. In mortal experience it is expected that hindrances will occur, and that the overcoming of them develops strength by arousing energy and determination of purpose; so we are wont to regard laborious study as useful and necessary in gaining knowledge of all kinds, even toilsome drudgery in acquiring a knowledge of art; but often this strenuous driving overpowers the mental faculties, and the man breaks down physically and must give up his cherished ambition.

A man who had explained perfectly to another how to row a boat was one day seen making an unsuccessful attempt at putting the theory into practice. Those watching said that he knew the philosophy of rowing but that his efforts were very unscientific.

The following experience of a student of Christian Science is given in the hope that it may prove helpful to others who also are seeking to demonstrate the truth that divine Love meets every need. At the beginning of the summer of 1917 the student found herself far from being wealthy, as this world counts riches, and a few weeks before her proposed holiday she received a bill for an amount which seemed, under the circumstances, overwhelmingly big to her.