Article November 9, 1907 Issue

TRUE VALUES

GERTRUDE RING.

It is a common experience that we are often induced to yield to the solicitation of sense in some form, after having resisted the same temptation in another guise. The scholar who would scorn vanity in dress, or glory in that he is sumptuously fed or luxuriously housed, may be indulging the pride in high attainments along scientific lines; never suspecting the imposition that arrogance is making, but considering his standpoint of superiority to be elevated to a mental realm which differentiates it from the common brand.

Says the Wise Man, "I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven; . . . . I have seen all the works that done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit," and it would seem that many an earnest follower of material science must agree with this decision, so rapidly does new discovery undermine conclusions arrived at by the persevering study of years. In this conflicting medley of overthrown convictions one may well inquire what is stable and unchanging, in other words truly valuable.

Mrs. Eddy, the author of Science and Health, in the first edition of this book made unqualified statements respecting matter which the physical scientist has since "discovered" by laborious experiment to be true. Then what what a bubble must worldly learning be in comparison to the clear crystal of Mind, wherein the true substance and causation of every image and reflection dwells! One who is especially well informed on all current topics expressed regret that Christian Scientists should place so little value upon detailed knowledge of scientific progress, since, in her judgment, they thus excluded themselves from conversation on these profound subjects. The Christian Scientist addressed, knowing that this lady justly acknowledged that Christian Science had been of incalculable aid at a time when all else had failed, asked whether she would again prefer the declarations of Truth as taught in Christian Science, in similar stress of circumstances, or the most erudite discourse concerning the latest "wonderful discovery." The critic admitted that in real value to the human race, the former was as incomparable as the diamond would be to a glittering bit of prismatic glass.

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