Articles

ONE of the unquenchable cravings of the human consciousness is a desire for success. This desire may be vacillating, may incline first in one direction, then in another, or it may be fixed upon a few things, or for a time upon a single object; but once having their thought directed toward some goal, men love to win.

THE term purity, as understood in Christian Science, includes and involves a great deal more than the mere avoidance of vice. Doubtless the pharisaical in all ages have believed themselves pure according to the letter of the Mosaic law, but the fact remains that a man who is believing in the reality of matter, because of his belief in a dual nature, cannot be designated as truly pure-minded.

One who is seeking freedom, and finds its coming delayed, is often tempted to question, Why am I so long in being healed? I read and study with the utmost faithfulness, do everything required of me, "pray without ceasing," yet conditions do not change; while others are quickly healed, without any apparent understanding or knowledge of Science, and seemingly without any effort on their part. This may be quite true; yet, puzzling as it seems, the fact remains that each one must walk in his own pathway and learn the lessons to be gained therein.

ON page 233 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," Mrs. Eddy writes: "Do Christian Scientists love God as much as they love mankind? Aye, that's the question.

LOYALTY is a quality of character which is respected by many, though understood by few. It is defined as "faithful to law, upholding the lawful authority," etc.

SOME Biblical expositors are a little doubtful as to the exact meaning of those words of Jesus regarding John the Baptist, as recorded by Matthew and Luke. John was in prison; yet he sent two of his followers to the Master to know whether or not he was the Christ.

IN the eighth chapter of Mark's gospel we read that the Master charged the disciples to "take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. " Bible students are generally familiar with Jesus' caution to beware of the doctrines of the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, and have a more or less accurate knowledge of the mental and moral characteristics of these sects against which he warned them, but many may not be so conversant with this single reference to the leaven of Herod.

IF we look below the surface of human life, we still find that many of its mistakes and tragedies are due to the fact that a sense of injustice is being harbored in thought. This sense tends to produce resentment and a belief of grievance, or even a desire for revenge.

Those who look on others from the standpoint of self-righteousness, see always something to criticize; those who look kindly, see ever something to approve. Having righteousness for their standard, it is possible for them to discern in others everything which may be measured by that standard.

Many an observant traveler has been wonderingly impressed with the number of Christian Science churches which are springing up in every quarter of the world. To a student of Christian Science these structures are expressions of gratitude to God on the part of the beneficiaries of this teaching, and in noting these symbols of spiritual growth and progress, his thought may revert, as did that of the writer, to the words occurring in the seventh chapter of I Samuel, where we read that when the prophet was returning with the people of Israel after a great victory over the enemies of Truth, as symbolized by the Philistines, he "took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.