Articles

THE constant aim of the disciple of truth is to prove to the world that righteousness is practical. It cannot be said that "righteousness and peace have kissed each other" until theory and practice are recognized as inseparable, for until the law of right is spiritually discerned and obeyed in daily living, the "peace of God," that peace "which passeth all understanding," is an unknown factor in human experience.

For mercy's sake, man, do not do that, it will be your sure death. Rise early, or you will be afflicted with obesity.

IT is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles that Paul was once questioned by the Athenians concerning "certain strange things" which they had heard that he preached. "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

TRIALS are sometimes found to be preparatory schools, whose exacting curriculum and rigid discipline make for higher learning and accomplishment. These schools are so equipped as to purge each and every student of his ignorance of Principle, of indifference to Truth, of selfishness, unkindness, stupidity, and carelessness.

AT a Wednesday evening testimonial meeting some one made this statement: "Each testimony of healing is a stone in the building of our church. " Jesus declared to Simon Bar-jona that the rock of spiritual perception was the Christ-idea upon which would be built the church against which the gates of hell should not prevail, and then this disciple was given the name of Peter, signifying "a stone.

IT is a current theory that in the beatitudes Jesus intended to give formal and concise expression to his idea of the proper permanent ethical attitude of the "citizens" of the kingdom of heaven. A study of these sayings in the light of the writer's present understanding of Christian Science convinces him that this object, however prominent in the body of the Sermon on the Mount, is but secondary in the introduction to that discourse, the primary emphasis being placed on the glad tidings of the kingdom.

ETHICS has been variously defined: as "the science that offers a rational explanation of Rightness and oughtness," as "the science of right conduct," the "rational procedure by which we determine what individual human beings 'ought' or what it is 'right' for them to do," the "art of directing men's action to the production of the greatest possible quantity of happiness," as "a system of rules for regulating the actions and manners of men in society," and as "the science or art of 'right' individual conduct of men toward their fellow-men. " All of these definitions are comprehensively included in the Bible command known as the golden rule: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE strongly emphasizes the necessity of right thinking before mankind can be happy or harmonious, and the question naturally arises, What is right thought? It is plain that the wilful sinner, the profligate, and the criminal are not right thinkers or they would not be wrong doers; but what of those who wilfully do no wrong, who maintain a high standard of morality, and yet experience suffering and misfortune? What of those whose lives are even saintly, who bless mankind by their noble works and exalted characters, and yet are afflicted with disease or disaster? How can these be said to suffer because of erroneous thought? Human thought, as is well known, is largely directed by the theories and beliefs which are handed down from generation to generation. Thought, like water, flows in the old channels until new and better ones are provided.

The morning sun is smiling through my window, And bids me rise: The birds are singing songs of life and beauty; How blue the skies! The night is spent; the shadows lose their seeming; Into my consciousness the truth is streaming! So real night seemed,—and yet I was but dreaming, And dreams are lies! I dream of sin and suffering and crying,— Heard voices call: Oh, I am lost! and one, O God, I'm dying! Help, or I fall! These idle dreams, whose warp and woof are rotten; This chaos, night, of mortal mind begotten; It ne'er was true: I only had forgotten That God is All! But night is passing with its dreams and terror, Its toil and strife: We hear above the dying din of error, The psalm of Life! The errors must unmask! The day is nearing! The angels song, though faint, is sweet and cheering; The shepherds watch for Truth's full-orbed appearing, The deathless life!

THE problem of right living is largely a problem in usefulness. This problem is two-sided.