Article December 18, 1909 Issue

VERIFICATION

HELEN ANDREWS NIXON.

The student of Christian Science who watches the workings of the truth in his own life, sees verified its teaching, viz., that divine Principle is ever operative, ever imperative, ever loving. The Discoverer of Christian Science and the author of its text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," has aroused human consciousness to acknowledge the paramount necessity of obeying the First Commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Facing this unequivocal command, one may well rejoice that through Christian Science has come also the understanding that it is no mere arbitrary requirement, but the all-impelling, and joy-bestowing Science of God and man in His image and likeness. The revelation to Mrs. Eddy of God as the only Mind, laid bare the false belief of mortals in an evil mind, a mind opposed to good. Upon the acceptance of the finality of this revelation concerning the allness of good and the supposititious character of evil, an intelligible and progressive life begins to unfold, for this revelation constitutes a working basis. Spiritual facts are thenceforth to be declared, material beliefs are to be contradicted. The verification of statements made in Science and Health is a daily experience with the obedient student of Christian Science. If at a given point scientific growth away from old habits of thinking is imperative to insure one's advance, experience is sure to prove a thorough teacher. The end of an experience will often bring to mind a right scientific thought which passed unheeded prior to the experience.

Among many others the three following statements in Science and Health are continually proven true, viz., "He [Jesus] taught mortals the opposite of themselves:" "Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth;" and "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (pp. 20, 266, 494). Throughout all of Mrs. Eddy's writings it is taught that the kingdom of God is within reach of the purified consciousness. The process of purification, in which God "worketh in you," includes for each one conscientious study and application of the rules laid down in Science and Health, and a constant effort to divest himself day by day of erroneous material thinking and to exercise the sense of gratitude and praise to God. The kingdom of God appears in fairer proportions with every forsaking of error.

No work for ourselves and others equals in importance the demonstration of our divinely-bestowed ability to free our own thought from evil and the fear of evil. The healing of the sick through Mind is the first step toward this liberation. To attempt the control of another's thought, or to be influenced by another's thought, is not Christian Science practice. The legitimate task to be undertaken is the demonstration of man's spiritual individuality. This task admits of no self-deception, but calls for clear-sighted vision. If we are becoming even slightly acquainted with selfhood derived from God, it is not difficult to appreciate the divine right of our neighbor to self-government. Remove the wrongs, the cruel enactments against mankind, and human lives flow naturally toward God. The utmost respect for our own and for our neighbor's ability to reflect the divine intelligence should be granted. One point in the working out of life's problems which demands careful guarding is this, that one need not adopt another's modus operandi, though tempted to do so by the satisfaction of being consulted and by the sympathy of human friendship. One should seek first the divine guidance, and follow his own upward individual convictions, ever keeping in the light reflected upon his own pathway.

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