Article June 11, 1910 Issue

LIGHT

HERBERT A. HUTCHINSON

One of the most beautiful symbols used in the Bible is that of light. From the beginning of the first chapter in Genesis to the last chapter of the book of Revelation, light is used as a symbol of Truth and Love, and Christian Science shows the true meaning of the word, as spiritual sense or understanding. In Ecclesiastes we read, "Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine." That spiritual understanding and communion have this effect is seen in the case of Moses, on his return from the mount the second time with the tablets bearing the Ten Commandments: "And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone." On the occasion of Jesus' transfiguration on the mount, Matthew says of him that "his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." When Paul was converted, on his journey to Damascus, it is related that "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven."

The Master constantly used the word "light" in the spiritual sense in his teachings, when endeavoring to raise the thoughts of his disciples, and all who heard him, heavenward. The 12th chapter of John's Gospel contains this saying of Jesus: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." We of this age cannot be grateful enough that the light of Truth, of Spirit, has again dawned in consciousness, and for this our gratitude goes out to our best human friend, Mrs. Eddy, for "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and for all her labors for mankind. Across the rage and fury of mortal thought, lashed and stirred to its depths by the winds of Truth, the clear, steady light of Christian Science shines out as a beacon, and through the roar and hurricane of the clash of human beliefs and wills, come the tender tones of the voice, saying as of old, "Peace, be still."

It is in the book of Revelation that we get the full sense of light. John, the beloved disciple, our "brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ," has lifted the veil of human beliefs, and whoever has seen the light can get a vision, however slight, of that state in which mortal error will have flickered out, and eternal harmony reign. From the beginning to the end of this book the scenes bring to the reader a sense of transcendent light,—light far beyond the ken of mortal sense; and yet our present sense of spiritual light, as proved by our comparatively feeble demonstrations of the Christ-power, can only be as the glint of starlight compared to the sun shining "in his strength."

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