Article August 6, 1910 Issue

THE VALUE OF INSTRUCTION

BELLE A. MUNDY.

A friend of mine was trying to lay the foundation of an education in the mind of her maid—an immigrant just from the old country. When she told the maid that the sun did not rise and set and that the earth went around the sun, this statement caused much merriment in the mind of the untutored one, and it took a long time to convince her that the lady was not joking. "Why," said she, "if the world went around, all my plates and dishes would be thrown on the floor!" Before yielding to the instructions of Christian Science, my own mental attitude was much the same—ignorant merriment at the ideas presented to me. A good many of my "plates and dishes" have been thrown on the floor, not by a knowledge of the scientific facts, but for want of that knowledge.

We sometimes comfort ourselves with an ignorant and false belief, which gives a temporary comfort. This same maid was dreadfully homesick for the old country, so much so that her mistress did not know what to do to stop her tears and laments. But one day the girl dried her eyes and went cheerfully to work and nothing more was heard of her grief. Her mistress marveled, but wisely said nothing, until Christmas approached, when she asked her how she had conquered her homesickness so thoroughly The girl replied, with a joyous laugh, "Oh, I remembered that winter was coming and the sea would freeze over, and then I could walk home!" Happy in her delusion, she had finally forgotten to be homesick.

A mind that is honest and open to instruction learns to value its opportunities. It neither ignorantly opposes the truth when presented, nor consoles itself with false arguments. It listens to the voice which says: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." Therefore it does not become "as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding." Mortal mind has to be bound "with bit and bridle," that it may not come near unto thee. After years of investigation and study of the subject of Christian Science, I can only rejoice in the value of the instruction I have received, and cry out with the poet,—

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TRUTH REFORMATORY
August 6, 1910
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