Articles

IN the Preface to the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy explains briefly but forcefully her specific relation to the establishment of the Christian Science movement.

IT has been sagely said by Emerson that "we must be as courteous to a man as to a picture which we are willing to give the benefit of a good light. " We have only to observe our thoughts and words for a short time in order to see how seldom this just consideration is shown our fellow man.

THE true meaning of the word substance was brought very forcibly to the attention of the writer, a short time since, through the earnest appeal of a friend, a man of education, who was honestly and sincerely seeking to learn more about Science. He had, however, the common trouble of being unable to distinguish between sense and Soul, the material and the spiritual, and was greatly concerned to know why man's physical body, so plain to be seen, is not substance.

The modern philosopher who spoke thus to a friend, "Tell me of your beliefs; I have doubts of my own," was unconsciously voicing a wide-spread appeal. What he intended to convey was, that doubt, being negative and destructive, is useless for any high and holy purpose.

The writer was particularly interested in the following statement contained in the clerk's report of the annual meeting of The Mother Church, June 8, 1912 ( Sentinel, p. 804): "There has been much to indicate that the year's growth and development have been largely due to an increased understanding on the part of Christian Scientists of their individual responsibility,—a clearer realization that the problems, both of the individual and of our church organizations, can only be solved through the impersonal, unselfish demonstration of God's unerring guidance.

St. Paul's admonition to put off the old man and put on the new, is realized and exemplified to a marked degree by those who come into Christian Science from a worldly or godless life.

The importance of adopting an unvarying attitude of active resistance to the encroachments of evil, error of every sort, is an emphasized point in the teaching of Christian Science. We are all liable, if not to forget this, at least to minimize in thought the necessity for continual watchfulness, and for active resistance to aggressive intimation.

In the twentieth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy we read: "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies .

There has been some comment concerning the non-participation of the Christian Science church in what is known as the "men and religion forward movement," and an extreme statement was made by a young man, much in need of the help which Christian Science alone gives, to the effect that he hesitated to try Christian Science because he inferred that it appealed chiefly to women. He had heard that Christian Scientists did not participate in the "men and religion" movement, because no serious expectation was entertained of enlisting men to any considerable degree in Christian Science work.

The explanation given to the disciples of Jesus respecting the darkness into which they had fallen was, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures. " At another time, seeing the hopelessness of controversy with the Jews, who had already made up their minds with regard to his teaching, he said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life.