Article July 24, 1909 Issue

CHEMISTRY AND TRUTH

WINDSOR RICHARDS

In Science and Health (p. 422) we are told that "mental and moral chemistry changes the material base of thought, giving more spirituality to consciousness and causing it to depend less on material evidence.... Thus Christian Science, by the alchemy of Spirit, destroys sin and death." A recent experience has helped to make this teaching clear to me.

A sample of zinc ore had been sent to me for analysis. The seller was under the impression that the ore contained twenty-five per cent of zinc, while the buyer was equally certain that it contained but twenty per cent zinc. The difference of five per cent was a monetary conscideration which would affect the selling price, and as they could not agree as to what the percentage of zinc actually was, they determined to have a test analysis made. A quantity of the ore was pulverized in a mortar, and a portion of this weighed on a chemical balance so delicate that it would easily weigh a hair. This portion of ore was transferred to a beaker (a glass vessel) and a few cubic centimeters of strong nitric acid were added. This, with the aid of a little heat, quickly reduced the ore from its solid to a liquid state, and so rendered it susceptible to further treatment; just as we, at the call of Christian Science, are ready for treatment when we are willing to let go a little of our solid materiality.

The zinc having lost its very opaque and solid nature, the process of eliminating its various impurities was begun. One of these most easily removed was the lead, a few drops of sulphuric acid being added to precipitate this metal. This was a process which had to be accomplished with great care, as a considerable disturbance takes place in the beaker during the precipitation. The beaker was now examined in the light, and it was hard to believe that it contained a pure, undefiled zinc, as the undissolved silica and rhodonite, as well as the precipitated lead, all tended to make one believe that the vessel contained nothing more than a mass of impurities.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
THE WAY OF LOVE
July 24, 1909
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit