Article February 5, 1910 Issue

Gibbon's "History of Rome" recites the fact that for...

John H. Wheeler

Nodaway (Maryville, Mo.) Forum

Gibbon's "History of Rome" recites the fact that for three hundred years after the crucifixion primitive Christians healed the sick and raised the dead through their spiritual understanding of God's power over human error. Unfortunately this precious gift was early lost, but almost half a century ago, in the hour of direst need, a godly woman, through unfaltering faith in our Saviour's promises and consecrated prayer, experienced the healing power of God, and was made every whit whole. Guided by this realization of God's loving care, and more than ever convinced of His active living presence, she was led step by step to see and understand more fully His way of undoing the heavy burdens of suffering humanity. In holy humility she consecrated her life to the discovery of a spiritual rule possible for mortals to obey and practise; the missing link between God and man which insures the peace that passeth understanding, and with unerring wisdom she found it, and named this sacred discovery Christian Science.

For years this noble woman, Mary Baker Eddy, traveled about, teaching her fellow-men this revelation of God's active law, demonstrating her discovery by healing the afflicted and preaching the gospel of "on earth peace, good will toward men," "without money and without price." Her discovery occurred at the most opportune time, just when man's span of life had reached the lowest ebb, the shortest average length of life known in the history of the world; for according to accurate statistics the average life of men was then less than thirty-five years. Dating from that period, longevity has increased perceptibly and Christian Science is found to be the stone which the builders rejected, and which has become "the head of the corner." As a religion it has manifold proofs that its teachings regenerate men, sweeten life, soften nature with divine compassion, and turn thought resolutely to our divine Exemplar and Saviour for instruction and spiritual growth.

Mrs. Eddy writes: "I had learned that thought must be spiritualized, in order to apprehend Spirit. It must become honest, unselfish, and pure, in order to have the least understanding of God in divine Science" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 28). Herein lies the test of our sincerity and the endurance of our new-found faith to support us in the hour of trial against the overwhelming fears common to human experience, that we may be able, in Bible language, to endure to the end.

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