Articles

It is a curious fact that while the rapid growth of the Christian Science movement, as a whole is undeniable, the temptation to believe that progress is slow in the earnest student's particular community, or in his own individual consciousness, often seems to present itself. This lying argument, which is due to mortal mind's utter blindness to truth, seeks to manifest itself in the form of discouragement.

Christian Scientists have reason for sincere gratitude that the Manual of The Mother Church, in its completeness, authorizes the formation of Christian Science organizations at universities and colleges. No one can doubt, that organizations distinct from regular Christian Science churches and societies holding public meetings must have been authorized in order to meet needs distinct from those which the latter were intended to meet.

Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. " The real import of these words has surely been overlooked by professed Christians, for few seem to take them seriously; and yet probably no words in all the Bible have more vital significance for the human race, for is not this a question of life or death, heaven or hell? The reason for this lack of apprehension and appreciation may perhaps be found in the old theological belief that because a man believes, or says he believes, in Jesus Christ, he is saved, or is on the side of those who have experienced this new birth.

There is one book in the Bible in which no sign of any name or title of Deity is visible. It may be read in the original Aramaic, a mixture of Hebrew and Chaldee, and still no reference to Deity will be found.

Liberty is generally conceded to be the gift of God, and in its true sense rightly so; but in its frequent application, meaning the freedom to do precisely as one likes, it would seem to include few of the godlike qualities,—and it is certainly not in this sense calculated to bring one nearer to Principle. The utterance of the words of Jesus in Gethsemane, "Not my will, but thine, be done," would from this standpoint mean the forfeiture of an inalienable right, of man, and the gift of God; but for Jesus, who had learned that "the flesh profiteth nothing," the prayer meant entering more fully into the God-given inheritance of dominion, or true liberty, which can be found only in obedience to Principle.

As the national life of the United States is illustrating an advanced idea of democracy to all the world, it should be interesting to consider what the status of individual rights is in a land wherein the people are nominally self-governing. With all the progress in liberty of thought and action which has been realized in these states, it can hardly be said that the liberty of choice which true democracy guarantees is as yet thoroughly inviolate in matters pertaining to religion and medicine.

The questions may be asked, Why should a Jew become a Christian Scientist? What good thing does Christian Science supply that centuries of Judaism have failed to provide? When one realizes the steadily increasing influx of Jews into this twentieth century religion, these questions are seen to be pertinent to the hour. Centuries of unswerving devotion on the part of a race to a cause must call for a strong incentive to impel them to find interest in another cause.

The scientific order of being, in which man exists as spiritual idea governed by divine Principle, has its suppositional counterfeit in a world of mortals governed by material laws and human codes. Led on by the dim recognition that man is free, but failing to grasp the fact that freedom is spiritual, misguided mortals seek release from bondage in unspiritual channels until they are born again into the spiritual understanding of God and His government of man,— the truth which Jesus declared would make men free indeed.

A Wonderful picture of church organization is given in the twelfth chapter of I Corinthians, where the church is symbolized by the human body with its varied functions and activities. The various branches necessary to make a well rounded organization are described, and emphasis is laid on the necessity for harmonious introactive cooperation in order to accomplish constructive work.

It is possible that the word brethren, one definition of which is "members of a brotherhood," reaches its highest interpretation in that very rendering. Surely that was the significance in the Master's thought when he said, "All ye are brethren.