Article August 15, 1903 Issue

"One of our Greatest Blessings."

WILLIAM R. KNOX.

"Work is one of our greatest blessings; every one should have an honest occupation." This is the motto at the entrance of a school not far from Boston, and it has been the subject of my attention a great many times; but not until I had gained some understanding of the teachings and practice of Christian Science did I appreciate its full import.

Work is the song of the Christian Scientist. And as he awakens to the realization and appreciation of the truth of the teachings of this Science, he catches the rhythm of that song and strives to achieve the fulfilment of the promises which those teachings unfold.

Scientific work is not the babbling of words either audibly or mentally; neither is it the mere recitation of the Christian Science text-book or the Scriptures. It is not the effort to establish some human opinion or to bring about a result which to our limited judgment seems right, thus attempting to take from the hands of divine Mind that very guidance which we would seek. It is not the spasmodic effort, the striking out right and left in worldly fashion expecting results that must be gone over, one by one, in patient obedience. Work is not the aggressive effort of the man whose motto is to do something, no matter what it is, just do something and get some one else to do something. Such objectless effort is inharmonious and unscientific. Aggression is seldom progression, and is very often retrogression.