WHEREVER there is a defined conception of God, the religious thought finds manifestation in some outward form of worship. Men in their helplessness realize the necessity of an appeal to a higher power; and when a number in one place agree in their conceptions of this power and the manner of approach thereto, the result will be a congregation of worshipers, or a church. Following out this thought it would seem that there would be just as many varieties of churches, or denominations, as there were bodies of worshipers differing in their conception of God and man's relation to Him. This is precisely the case, and for this reason we have hundreds of creeds, some differing widely, and some separated only by slight lines of demarcation. This does not argue the existence of more than one God; it merely indicates the fact that humanity as a whole has had no scientific or provable conception of God and of man's relation to Him, and that therefore the opinions of any man might become at any time the foundation for a new faith. It is axiomatic that there can be but one infinite God, and one true interpretation of Him; and therefore it is not venturing too much to say that the numerous religious beliefs and the practices growing out of them, both in the Occident and the Orient, are an evidence that men have not actually worshiped the one God, but merely their conceptions of Him. Were it otherwise Brahminism, Buddhism, Mohammedanism, and many other Eastern beliefs, as well as denominationalism among professed Christians, would be obsolete; there would be but one church, and this would be the church triumphant, marching onward in infinite progress, peace, and power.
In ancient times, even among those considered enlightened, the worship of more than one God was a common practice. Men had then no conception of God as the infinite Principle, and hence various human attributes were deified in their attempts at worship. The Bible records how Moses led a people from polytheism to monotheism, and through various rites and ceremonies symbolically defined God and indicated the nature of those profound truths regarding God, man, and the universe which were afterwards to be unfolded and demonstrated by the Nazarene. As human thought progressed and gained higher conceptions of God, outward worship took on more meaning, and occasionally, when flashes of divine light illuminated consciousness, "signs and wonders" followed. Prophets pointed out the possible realization of a glorified existence by obedience to one God, and gradually humanity advanced in the understanding of true worship. Beneath all this anxious seeking to know God, lay the cherished hope of immortality, but none who had ever crossed the shadow-land of death had returned to give tangible evidence of hope's realization, and declare unto men one God and the truth of immortality with the authority of a victor. Such an one alone could unify human conceptions of God, and thereby establish a church which would embrace all mankind through its application to human needs, because none other could set aside human traditions and conceptions by declaring God and His eternal laws aright through the indisputable logic of demonstration. Until this should be done there was no logic or evidence which could appeal to the whole world, and so men's varying beliefs would necessarily find expression in varying forms of worship.
In the fulness of time the flower of hope burst into bloom; the Son appeared to declare the Father; immortality was revealed and demonstrated, and through the unmeasured love and unparalleled sacrifice of the Saviour the church universal was established on earth. That this church is not more in evidence is due entirely to the fact that humanity has not yet fully accepted the ideal pointed out by Jesus. When Jesus brought his earthly career to a close by his triumphant ascension above the flesh, the highest proof of his teaching was given, and the dwellers on earth had no longer a valid reason for entertaining a diversity of opinions concerning God and His relation to man and the universe. Jesus was the greatest harmonizer of human thought that ever trod this globe, because he declared the absolute and divine Truth, and in divine Truth alone can mankind arrive at but one conclusion, worship one God aright, and in such worship manifest the ideal and universal church. Jesus not only declared the nature of God and man, but he stated a truth of stupendous import to humanity when he declared that such as believed his words, and received an enlightened understanding of them, should not only overcome every sort of discordant manifestation, even as he did, but should like wise receive a present realization of immortal existence. Here, then, was the hoped-for and dreamed-of victor over death, himself offering to men not only a means of salvation from the ills that beset them, but a way by which they could realize their most cherished hope. Those who truly under stood Jesus and the condition under which these attainments were possible, were comparatively few, and they came to be called Christians and their assemblies were known as Christian churches, or churches of Christ. Those who adhered to the teachings of the Master realized that they were practically demonstrable, and history records the fact that the early Christian church continued for many years to perform the wonderful works which Jesus said should follow those who became his disciples. The revelation had been given, its divinity proved, and it only remained for the whole world to accept it and receive the blessings it bestowed. That it did not do so was neither the fault of the revelation nor of the revelator. The fault was entirely with those who endeavored to construe the teachings of Jesus according to their own personal conceptions, and from a material viewpoint; whereas Jesus declared that only through the door of the Christ, the spiritual idea, could entrance be found into the heavenly kingdom. When Jesus revealed the one God, he also declared that there was but one Way to approach Him. Back of all his wonderful words and works lay his profound understanding of the unity of God and the brotherhood of man. Unity in love, and obedience, were the keynotes of successful discipleship then, and they will so remain until the end of time. The great Metaphysician knew that God must be understood as divine Principle, Love, and the brotherhood of man realized, or the universal Church of Christ would not become dominant on earth. He knew that when men realized that they all had the one Mind, even the tender Father-Mother God, brotherhood would no longer be a meaningless word, and men would no longer strive to exalt self, but would seek in another's good the unfolding of hope and joy. He knew furthermore that this self-abnegation would lead to spiritual discernment, prevent divisions, exalt the true ideal, and keep the church united in the bonds of peace. Thus the unfolding of spiritual thought could go grandly on, and the church prove a beacon to earth-worn travelers, casting out sickness and sin. Unity in spiritual love was deemed so important to the very existence of the true Christian church, that its Founder made it one of the tests and evidences of discipleship and said "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." With out this, spiritual progress in the church would be slow or impossible; for without the meekness and might of spiritual love to act as a protection against aggressive material mentality and the subtleties of sin, there would be no sure safe guard against the introduction of material concepts and personal aggrandizement into the church, and the consequent loss of that spiritual discernment which alone could perpetuate the true understanding of Christ's revelation. The answer to the oft-repeated inquiry, "Why did the spiritual power manifested in the early Christian church so early die out?" is here indicated. The apostles knew that personal interpretations of Jesus' revelation would work disaster, and St. Paul sounded an oft-repeated warning when he said "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. There fore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Alas, that this warning should not have been heeded! Through slightly opened doors of consciousness the multifarious suggestions of evil found entrance and, like evil seeds, found lodgment in the soil of personal ambition and desire for leadership. These unholy desires culminated in a clouded understanding, and later in misinterpretations of the Word through scholastic theology, so that eventually the church of Christ grew dim in the distant perspective, and churches of men, founded on creeds and traditions, and lacking in the power of demonstration, loomed up darkly in the foreground, and in their lengthening shadows obscured the heavenly church and the fair ideal of Christ's revealing. Passing centuries have witnessed the birth of scores of new interpretations of the Master's teachings, but the very existence of this great number of creeds and dogmatic forms of worship evidences the fact that the true ideal has been lost, and the power over evil, promised by Jesus to his followers, has become a mere tradition or a dream of what might be. Now as before the time when the glad tidings were given, men are appealing to the churches for a reasonable evidence of faith, and are met with the reluctant and mournful admission that they have it not.
The twilight of hope in millions of hearts was fast settling into gloom, when in this age a bright star of promise rose in the firmament of spiritual understanding. Its divine significance was revealed to the world through the untiring efforts and loving consecration of that noble woman, Mary Baker G. Eddy. Through her wonderful spiritual illumination she has given the true interpretation of Christ's teachings, declared the nature of God and man aright, and again established on earth the church of Christ on the foundation whereon was established the early Christian church in demonstration of God's love and with "signs following." No new God has been declared, no new Christ avowed, and no tests of Christian discipleship demanded save those demanded by Jesus himself. There is nothing new in eternal Truth, and Christian Science is simply the revelation of the eternal Truth which Jesus unfolded in his brief but glorious earthly career. Christian Science is Christian be cause it is based on the teachings and demonstrations of Christ Jesus. It is scientific because its operations are according to law and order, and meet the requirements of philosophically scientific tests. It offers a salvation from sin and the ills of the flesh, reveals heaven and immortality, and adheres steadfastly to the ideal pointed out by Jesus. The assemblies of its adherents are called Churches of Christ, Scientist, and the most extraordinary wisdom and foresight has been displayed in ordaining the Bible and the Christian Science text-book as the only pastors of this church. In this way the conflicting opinions of personal interpreters are avoided, and so once more, in the divine unity and demonstrable evidence of Christian Science, the way is made clear for the permanent establishment on earth of the universal church of Christ in the bonds of love and unity.
It has already been stated that in their faith the Churches of Christ, Scientist, coincide with the churches founded by the apostles, and it will be instructive to compare their experiences. No sooner had Jesus declared his wonderful revelation and performed his mighty works, than he met with the most violent opposition from the pharisaism of the age. The antagonism and human hatred of truth culminated in the exercise of physical violence, so that not only was Jesus crucified but his followers were afterward persecuted with indescribable barbarity, and every attempt was made to disrupt and annihilate the church. These attempts met with signal defeat, and history records the fact that in spite of the most appalling persecutions the early church of Christ continued in unity, gained followers, and by closely following the injunctions of the Master, healed the sick and sinful, cast out demons, and even raised the dead. Human intolerance and torture inflicted upon its adherents did not stay the progress, disrupt the unity, or prevent the inspiring demonstrations of power in the early Church of Christ. So long as personal opinions and ambitions to be first found no abiding-place in the church, the powers of darkness prevailed not. It was when the subtlety of sin first suggested personal exaltation, and the question of who should be greatest when meekness and spiritual love were set aside for secular ambitions and human interpretations, that the light of divine understanding and the power of demonstration faded from the church, and that glorious organization, instead of remaining the earthly representative of the indivisible church universal, became divided into factions devoid of demonstrable power. Then did darkness brood over the church, from which sprang wars and bloodshed and denominationalism, all consummated in the name of that Christ who declared that in unity, love, and the power of demonstration alone could be found the true evidences of discipleship. Had the whisperings of the tempter in this direction never been heeded, denominational ism among Christians would have been impossible.
When the true and demonstrable interpretation of Christ's teachings were in this age again presented to the world, they met with the same hostile reception as aforetime. While the laws of the land forbade a display of physical violence, the adherents of the Church of Christ, Scientist, were assailed by pulpit and press, and murderous hate and narrow-minded intolerance strove to crucify the divine idea which was revealed now as in the centuries long past with "signs following." In spite of all this the church has greatly prospered. History repeats itself in that outward violence has not crushed the church in this age, and we can safely say that it will not do so. Furthermore, the danger arising through a personal interpretation of the revelation has been forever guarded against by the introduction of impersonal pastors into the church service. Herein is a safeguard of tremendous importance, and history will record the wisdom of its provision. Unlike the early churches, the church now cannot suffer in this respect. It may therefore be as-summed by some that if outward persecution cannot hinder the progress of the church, and the danger of personal interpretation and interpolation has been removed, then the Church of Christ, Scientist, as the earthly representative of the church universal, can suffer no hindrance in its permanent establishment. Such a position is at present untenable, and Christian Scientists need to exercise prayerful vigilance that they be not beguiled into apathy through such a fancy. It is true that a clear and absolute revelation of the meaning of Christ's Gospel has been given to the world by our Leader, Mary Baker G. Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." It is also true that the only scientific, logical, and feasible form of church service has been presented and adopted; all of which means that the way has been made clear for the permanent establishment of the Church of Christ, Scientist, as the representative on earth of Christ's universal church, embracing humanity in eternal brotherhood. This has been the work of the inspired Leader of the Christian Science movement. For her has been set the herculean task of discovering the true and demonstrable interpretation of Christ's teachings. She has given this interpretation to the world in a scientific and enduring form. She has pointed out how the true Church of Christ may be permanently established as "that institution which affords proof of its utility, and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs, to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." (From definition of Church in Science and Health.) It is for the leader to point out the way; the followers must walk in it. No general, however wise or brave he may be, can fight the battle alone. The obedient and united efforts of his followers are necessary to win the field. The revelation of Christian Science shows how all may become true disciples of Christ, and members of the glorious Church of Christ; but every aspiring one must heed these words, still echoing in tearful admonition through the tragic gloom of the past and the destructive secular ambitions of the present: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." This love is the imperative need of the hour. Without it all attempts to unify humanity in the folds of that spiritual church which alone can heal its ills and give it the bread of Life, must prove abortive. It is self-evident that the universality of the church cannot be visibly manifested unless those who are its adherents can bring themselves into loving unity with each other. Differences of opinion concerning ways and means, and the methods of church government, will cause no divisions when that Mind rules "which was also in Christ Jesus." Centuries ago the apostle wrote, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." In this age our patient Leader repeats the loving admonition, "Do not, I implore you, stain the early history of Christian Science by the impulses of human will and pride" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 141).
If we consider the devil mentioned in the Scriptures as impersonal evil, and view the matter as the apostle did when he said, "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," we may be wise enough to discover the most vulnerable point in our organization and defend it. The revelation of Christian Science in its text-book is established, and needs no defence. Its presentation in our churches cannot be adulterated so long as the present order is maintained. Since evil cannot force an entrance through the avenues of persecution or adulteration of the Word, the attempt must needs be made to cause divisions among the adherents themselves, and in this subtle way hinder growth and cast a shadow over the divine glory of the church. The old legend about the bundle of sticks is well known. So long as they were all tied together no man could break them, but when there came one who was subtle enough to take them apart, they were easily broken one by one. This has a pertinent application to the point in view. Every Christian Scientist needs to pray unceasingly for the unity of the church, and watch that there be no personal exaltation through the subtle suggestions of sin. The Revelator tells us that the church in Philadelphia (brotherly love) received the approval of Christ, and that before it was set the open door which no man could shut. The Church of Christ, Scientist, representing Christ's universal church, is pre-eminently the church of brotherly love. Upon it rests the solemn responsibility of presenting to the world the unadulterated truth, and of leading into its haven of rest the millions of weary ones who thirst for the fountain of Life as the "hart panteth after the water brooks." What account shall we, its adherents, give of our stewardship? Through earth's darkness and mists the towers of Christ's Church have again risen, glorious and golden in the light of His love. Their beacon light shines out across the sea of time strewn with wrecks of creeds and traditions of men, to the shore where the Father welcomes His own, and whither our Elder Brother has gone before us. O may the tender grace of our risen Lord guide each one in humility and love to work unselfishly, endure patiently, and pray for the realization of God's kingdom!
