There is an old adage which runs somewhat in this fashion:—

This quaint old couplet holds much that is wholesome for all mankind, but its application to the conduct of Christian Scientists is particularly apt, inasmuch as they are engaged in an open and avowed purification of thinking and living which becomes apparent, as it is accomplished, to every thoughtful observer. The message of Christian Science has been heard by thousands of people, who have been drawn together in the common desire for further enlightenment for themselves and for others. United in purpose and endeavor, they bring to this new field of effort every conceivable phase of human temperament. disposition, and education, every tendency which former training and environment have fostered. Under the one clear and simple line of obedience to Divine law, all objectionable idiosyncrasies must eventually disappear, but, in their passing, there is need for the harmonizing of this great mass of thought, that the unity of purpose may triumph over the individual differences of standpoint and method.

After the individual has perceived clearly the truth of Christian Science, he is called upon to prove, step by step, the supremacy of good, the powerlessness of evil; and many times, during this process of growth, the past traits and habits of thought are found unconsciously suggesting, influencing, and coloring the judgments, conclusion, and general point of view, even though there be the most earnest desire to see and do only that which is right. Right motives may prevail, and yet not instantaneously obliterate all possibility of individual limitation or mistake, and just at this point of experience there is need for much patience, discretion, and loving-kindness, that the faulty conditions may yield to the higher and better ways demanded by the Christ-mind.

Because past habits of thought are not instantly disposed of in the first healing touch of Christian Science, great charity must be exercised concerning another's doorstep, and great industry should mark the care of one's own. In the higher developments of organized work, traits which were peculiar to the individual may re-assert themselves in connection with the liberated conditions, and until the human disposition is entirely transformed, each individual must be found sweeping from his own doorstep the errors peculiar to himself. The mortal who has been suspicious may find himself still tempted to be distrustful concerning the motives of others; the one who has been indifferent and easy going must guard against mental laziness, and watch that he be alert; criticism, envy, ambition, self-love, may try to lift up their heads and find entrance into any group of workers through the human natures which do not successfully resist their influence; and all this tends to make the individual thus hampered see one and another fellow-worker in a false light. Such weakness of human nature must be held in check, and disposed of entirely, by the beneficent influence of the Christ-spirit, operating in the purification of each individual. Christian Science work should bring to light every personal idiosyncrasy, that all may be dispelled and the government of the divine Mind established.

As righteousness is more clearly revealed, evil is more readily detected. Growing acquaintance with the genuine and eternal exposes more fully the unreal nature of the counterfeit. For this reason, all students of Christian Science have a higher ideal of conduct than they formerly held, expect more from each other, and are more ready to detect an error upon another's doorstep. If this acuteness be coupled with that sweet spirit of charity which rejoices in shielding a brother till his deliverance be accomplished, it is yoked to the service of Christ, Truth, yielding meek obedience to His will. If such quickness to see another's error be merely an intellectual sharpness, to be followed by condemnation, disapproval, and the unnecessary rehearsal of the matter to some one else, it becomes a misuse of the instruction concerning the uncovering of error, and operates as a mischief-maker, disintegrating and dividing where the grace of God should establish unity and peace. The gentle helpfulness which goes quietly to a brother and aids him to dispose of whatever may be undesirable, is very different from the criticism which exposes the offence to others, and leaves it there; or which condemns in thought, and leaves the wrong picture undestroyed. Obeying Jesus' injunction to "go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone," will result in cleansing the neighbor's doorstep, or in a meek return to one's own to remove from it the errors to be found there. But the thought which fails to obey this admonition, and wanders abroad to discuss the matter, is multiplying sorrow on every side.

If we are not on guard, a fault in another may be unduly perpetuated by the temptation to dwell upon it, in thought or word, and much turmoil can take place over that which would speedily exhaust itself if not supported by the criticism or consternation of ever-interested observers. If the relative importance of an error be estimated, and compared with the sublimity of man's hope, it drops out of thought as unworthy of prolonged consideration, the disintegrating force is annulled, and peace and healing dominate the situation. Error is unreal to God. If the Christian Scientist has undertaken to prove it unreal in human experience, he must watch well that he classify it as nothing, not something, wherever it claims to exist. His watching has two distinct demands upon it. The first, that it be quick to detect error wherever it may attempt to appear, and the second, that the watching continue until the error is seen as separate from God and man, as a lifeless, powerless unreality, unworthy of even that belief in it which would continue to support it.

There is a vast difference between dealing with error and associating with it. Evil must be recognized and summarily dealt with, in its reduction to its rightful nothingness; but error cannot be held in thought as entity or power, cannot be repeated to an eager listener, without a mental association with it which undermines the integrity of the thinker. Whatever is cherished in thought leaves a blessing, or for a time its stain. Mental association with the wrong concept is unsafe as well as un-Christian, and the undue contemplation of the dust upon another's doorstep so engages thought that one's own sweeping may be sadly hindered. If the debris of another be evident, it is well not to add to the dust of the village a further accumulation of criticism and gossip at one's own entrance, nor should disorder be unwittingly perpetuated by that zeal which neglects one's own doorway to assist in the care of another. To purify successfully, individual thought must sweep everything unworthy from its own portals, challenge every thought which would enter, and add to this vigilance the knowledge that all the dust upon all the doorsteps is not something to be disturbed about, but a substanceless heap to be swept away by the advance of Truth. Surely, as each individual corrects his own thinking, setting it free from all taint of merely human judgment, healing and peace will preside at every fireside, every service, every meeting, in every detail of home and community and church relationship. If "the Lord is our watchman," if the spirit of the Christ thus abounds in every heart, a church service becomes a holy place, wherein unity of purpose has dominated individual differences of habit and method, and joy and healing abide in abundance.

To the dear Leader of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy, the world owes more than can now be measured, for her loving admonition upon these matters. Pages 16 and 17 of her book, "No and Yes," reveal her attitude; and her own beautiful example shines, star-like, upon the children of men. May the prayer of every honest heart lift thought to the comprehension of her life, her work, her hope for all mankind!