Making our Demonstration

MORRIS WEBER.

At the end of a fruitful year of study in geometry, our teacher drew an unusual diagram on the blackboard and wrote down certain propositions connected therewith, and told us to prove them. None of us was equal to the task, so he gave us two weeks' time to work out the problem, and said, "Now I know those propositions are true, that they can be proven, and that you understand the principle of mathematics sufficiently to convince yourselves of their truth."

The first night we were all very eager to work. Forgetting all other lessons, we studied on that problem till midnight, looking up references and rules that we had forgotten, but all to no avail. The solution began to look impossible, and some ventured to affirm that our teacher had only played a huge joke on us, and was trying to make us study up our old lessons; that the conclusions he had drawn were false, hence could not be proven. For some days a few of us kept on trying, but finally only three remained who were convinced of the correctness of our teacher's assertions and that it was possible for us to work out the proof.

That day we three came together again and spent the better part of the night in trying to solve the problem by a united effort, but we failed again, this time because each of us thought that the methods of the others were erroneous, misleading, and fruitless, so each one of the three took up the task individually, and we finally did find the propositions to be true. Then the teacher asked us to prove them to the rest of the class. It was interesting to discover that, starting from the simplest propositions in geometry, we had reached one correct conclusion after another, and depending ever on the one basic law we had brought out the proof of the original proposition. It was a long and circuitous way, but the teacher let us alone till we had made the demostration after our own method. Then stepping to the blackboard, he solved the problem and made the diagram clear with a few well-defined lines.

In our effort to apprehend Christian Science we seem to go through a kindred experience. To a vainly investigating, but eager world, one who was pure enough to perceive the absolute demands of Spirit, has reaffirmed in her own language, the Master's proposition, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." She says, "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All in all" (Science and Health, p. 468). The truth of these words she has demonstrated to this age by healing the sick as well as reforming sinners, and she has asked us to follow her example.

Many may start by a long, roundabout way and, when wearied of the prolonged struggle, may become discouraged or else, seeing others advance more quickly, may fall into the temptation to leave the work to them; but when they begin to understand, even in some degree, that "That minutiæ and grandeur of lessor individualities reflect the one divine individuality" (Science and Health, p. 303), they will then take up their individual work gladly and fulfil the Scriptural injunction, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

The bias of education and custom, differing circumstances and experiences in individual life as well as that of nations, may seem to confuse us in our common work, by establishing the rule of minds many. Mrs. Eddy says, "I enjoin it upon my students to hold no controversy or enmity over doctrines and traditions, or over the misconceptions of Christian Science, but to work, watch, and pray for the amelioration of sin, sickness, and death" (No and Yes, p. 17). When we have learned to heed this loving counsel of our Leader we shall be more tolerant towards one another, look away from personality to Principle, and work in unity for the same glorious end; namely, the attainment of a consciousness, where, shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie"

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