Article October 8, 1904 Issue

The Glory of the Latter House

DORA W. STEPHENS.

While considering the building of the addition to The Mother Church, the foundation of which has been laid as the result of the demonstration of spiritual unity, I have been reminded of the building of the temple in the time of the kings Cyrus and Darius, an account of which may be found in Ezra and Haggai. Unlike those times, however, when work on the temple ceased for many years, because of the aggressive features of error arrayed against the Truth, that had to be met and overcome, we now rejoice in some apprehension of Christian Science, which reveals to us the true sense of God, as an ever-present help, and His law as the law of progress, for "the spiritual idea has given the understanding a foothold in Christian Science" (Science and Health, p. 534). We recognize that God's command to us to-day through our dear Leader, is as imperative, and the blessing as assured, as when given through Haggai the prophet, unto Zerubbabel, and it may be of advantage to us at the present time to consider the inspired words of this prophet.

"Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai, 2:3—9).

Who can begin to measure the results which must follow the erection of this "latter house," the glory of which, and the peace that shall rest upon it, being realized by each individual in the degree that the spiritual idea of Church has already been established in his consciousness. For the visible structure is but the result of unity of thought and action, and the faithful performance of daily deeds, "according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." "There is a thought higher and deeper than the edifice. . . . Our true temple is no human fabrication, but the superstructure of Truth, reared on the foundation of Love, and pinnacled in Life" (Pulpit and Press, p. 2). Lest we fail to enter into a clear realization of this "greater glory," may we consecrate ourselves anew to the building of our spiritual temple. "Faith without works is dead," and the works can be accomplished only as we start from the correct point of observation; namely, "infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation" (Science and Health, p. 468).

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The Glory of the Latter House

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access