Articles

THE paths by which people come to Christian Science are almost as varied as the individuals who come. Two general types were pointed out by Jesus in the parable of the hid treasure and the pearl of great price.

IT may not be generally known that the probable origin of our present public school system of education in the United States is a statute which dates back to 1642 when the General Court of the State of Massachusetts ordered that children should be brought up to learning and labor, and imposed fines upon parents and others who neglected their duty in these particulars. Of greater significance, however, was the statute of 1647, in which the statement is made that "in order to thwart the designs of that old deluder, Satan, every township in this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and read.

IN the fifth chapter of Judges it is written, "Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive;" while in his letter to the Ephesians Paul says of Christ Jesus, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. " Nothing more majestic than this statement can be found in the elder Scriptures, nothing more inspiring, save the words of Christ Jesus, has been uttered in all history.

WE who have been Christian Scientists for a number of years are apt to assume that all thinking and intelligent people are more or less familiar with the teachings, methods, and works of Christian Science. Because of this, we wonder why any class of people who have the good of humanity at heart should oppose the teachings, methods, and works of our movement.

Evidence that Christian Science has a practical value in reformatory and prison work has recently come to light through a letter received by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy from Rudolph Knur, a beneficiary of Christian Science in the state prison at Canon City, Col.

The New Testament is full of references to faith as the foundation of righteousness and a power for the accomplishment of good. The same is true of our Leader's great commentary on the Bible, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

The Old Testament being a history of the process of the establishment in the minds of men, through signs and wonders and great deliverances, of the existence of a supreme and omnipotent creator, so in the New Testament, in the life and words of Jesus the Christ, is written an unfolding vision of Truth and the unknown things of God, which yields its secret perfume to each successive mount of spiritual growth or achievement, until at last, as an unfolding rose bares its heart, so to the eyes of the seeker is laid bare the heart of the divine compassionate Father, and the truth-seeker realizes that which has heretofore been unknown to him, or but faintly perceived,—that in Christ Jesus we have beheld the Father,—a perception of that Truth, that incomprehensible, that unbelievable Love and mercy and compassion which they of his day were not able to bear. Are we, indeed, fully able? The God of Jesus' teaching and demonstration in the healing of disease and the forgiveness of sin, was a God of such divine effulgence and mercy and love that the materialistic Pharisees could not bear the concept.

Once there was a mighty lord, the master of a great estate, the ruler of many people. Daily, as he passed among them, he saw that some of them were poor and wretched, and some of them were rich and wretched, and he spent much time in thought about it, because his heart was tender toward them.

A thorough investigation of Christian Science by one who is not a Christian Scientist is no light undertaking. It would be an easy task if the investigator's equipment were but the narrow intellectualism with which many even brilliant men have approached it.

The Scriptures are indeed rich in simple metaphors that are well designed to illustrate to every grade of human consciousness the right way out of the bondage of material sense into heaven,—into "the glorious liberty of the children of God" which Mrs. Eddy has taught us is the spiritual sense of life or being.