Article June 12, 1902 Issue

Independence

BY CATHARINE VERRALL.

When I first heard of Christian Science I had gained what I thought was independence. I was earning enough to support myself, I was trusted, and had work that I liked, and yet I never felt poorer or more dependent in my life. I could not understand why I should so discontented, so hungry, and dissatisfied. Now I know that dependence on materiality always brings with it a sense of insecurity. Whether we depend on our own work or on the work of another, our prop will surely fail us. It is only when we gain a foothold on the rock, Truth, and resolve to keep our place that we can stand firmly and securely, knowing that in Truth none desire our place because all have their own place and are satisfied with it.

Our work is to destroy the sense of self and to bring our will into accord with the will of God. If each one is doing his own work faithfully, he will not only be happy and useful himself, but he will encourage others to do their work, knowing that he could not do it for them. The desire to do another's work is not love but self-conceit. If we truly love our neighbor we shall labor to awaken in him the consciousness of power which God has given to all His children, and encourage him to use the gifts that God has given to all impartially.

The question is often asked, In what way is Mrs. Eddy better than other good people? what has she done that others have not done? She has done this: she has lived so closely to God and has obeyed His voice so implicity that she has heard His voice more clearly than others and therefore understands Him better. She says, as Jesus said, and is proving as Jesus proved, that the healing of sickness as well as of sin, still follows those who believe, that is understand, the teaching of the Master. She asks none to believe anything because she says it, but because she loves her fellow-men, she asks them to prove for themselves that evil can be overcome through the understanding that God never made it, for all that He made is perfect.

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