Articles

Some years ago when the present form of church service was promulgated by our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy, those who had not risen in thought to perceive the leading of divine Principle in this radical departure from long established usage, were quite disposed to express the opinion that people would soon cease attending Christian Science services.

On page 283 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy, "after definitely giving the rule in regard to "Obtrusive Mental Healing," and the two exceptions to this rule, says, "I insist on the etiquette of Christian Science, as well as its morals and Christianity.

When Shakespeare declared that "all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players," he gave out an aphorism the truth of which is obvious chiefly because the self-importance of the average player tends to eclipse the purpose of the play. The true function of the actor is fidelity to the ideals of the artist whose thought he images.

A little black-bordered letter, telling its tale of grief and loss, dropped into the lap of the recipient. With a strong desire that she might send back a message of comfort and cheer instead of adding the burden of mere human sympathy to the sorrow of her friends, she sat looking out of the window and opening her heart to the allness of Life as understood in Christian Science.

There is, perhaps, no greater test which the student of Christian Science is called upon to endure than that of maintaining "faith and patience" when misunderstood and misjudged for the kingdom of heaven's sake. Quite often the circumstances are such that it is impossible for him to make any explanation, or to say anything which would make others see that he is in the right.

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.