Articles

THE history of the conquest of the children of Israel by the Assyrians, as related in the Old Testament, gives to the Christian of to-day a sufficient explanation of the reason of our present bondage to the forces of evil, the possibility of our freedom through the practical activity of Christian Science, the supreme danger that confronts us. and the way of escape.

IT is almost universally admitted that the narratives of the Old Testament stand unrivaled in the literature of the world for beauty of diction and form, and for the extraordinary vividness with which characters and events are brought before the reader. Every student of the Bible will admit that in the accounts of various episodes in the history of Moses, Abraham, Elijah, and Elisha, whose whole length does not exceed that of the introduction to a modern story, the events, local conditions, characters, action, and cause are presented so vividly that the actors in the drama remain in thought as far more living and real than do historical characters of periods much nearer his own time.

THE instructions of a man who was never known to make a mistake ought to be worthy of emulation, yet professing Christians will tell us that many of the precepts of our Lord and Master cannot be made practical in every-day life. Is this because they have not obeyed these very precepts, but are trying to believe without understanding them? Jesus' life was a complete exemplification of the precepts he taught, and when we stop to think of the marvelous good that was wrought during his brief stay on earth, of the peace and joy and happiness that entered into the lives of others, of the sick who were healed and of the sinful who were redeemed, is it an evidence of Christian loyalty and appreciation to believe that his teachings cannot be made applicable to the every-day needs of our present civilization? Should not such grand achievements rather encourage and stimulate us to a more determined effort to grasp the true meaning of the Master's words and works and to apply them? How may this be brought about? The Master has told us in unmistakable language how we may arrive at correct conclusions concerning his doctrine, and there is no record of any better or easier way than that which he taught.

The invitation to Mrs. Eddy to honor with her presence the observance of the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the organization of the First Congregational Church, Concord, the church in which she was baptized, is a graceful tribute to her worth and to her Christian labors in behalf of the race.

Concord, N. H.

ONE may sometimes profitably compare his present with his past experience, to note the progress made out of wrong conditions, but to compare one's own experience with another's is seldom if ever wise or profitable. Such comparison is apt to lead us into the deception of self-righteousness that we are doing so much better than our brother, or into the slough of discouragement because our brother is apparently doing so much better than we.

FREQUENTLY the beginner experiences difficulty in grasping the rudiments of a science or art he may essay to study or master, and as often he may pass hasty judgment upon both the subject and its adepts. He is apt to conclude that because he does not at once acquire proficiency, therefore the subject is either for the chosen few who are especially gifted in that direction, or that he is unusually dense.

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord. —Isaiah.

In order to learn, we must attend; in order to profit by what we have learnt, we must think—that is, reflect. He only thinks who reflects.

A Lecture Delivered Under the Auspices of The Mother Church, by William P. McKenzie, Member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship; at Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass.