Article November 11, 1911 Issue

BY THE WAYSIDE

ROSALIND C. PRATT.

During a recent extended trip through the far West and Pacific coast cities, it was my privilege to visit and enjoy the splendid system of Christian Science reading-rooms and church services, an experience which has emphasized anew and given me a keener realization of what this work means toward the world's uplift and redemption; With praise and gratitude to God for the gift of one whose spiritual insight, foresight, and unselfed love made this possible, I know that I voice the feelings of many travelers in sending a word of appreciation and encouragement to these loyal and patient workers at the post of duty in every department connected with the publication of our Christian Science literature.

On one occasion, in the heart of a desert where the one local attraction was the only but sufficient reason for the large hotel, what was our surprise and delight to note The Christian Science Monitor on sale. On another occasion, several copies of current issues of our periodicals were placed on the lobby table of a city hotel. In a few moments they had disappeared, but were readily traced, as they were in the hands of readers in various parts of the room. How and to what extent the coming of Christian Science is liberating the enslaved thought, lifting grievous burdens, and establishing the brotherhood of man, is evidenced by the radical change of attitude over the wide range of experiences which make up the sum of human history. This is shown in the intermingling of nations, the welding of North, South, East, and West; while differing religions have lost in a large degree the keen edge of antagonism. One of the most marked changes noted by the traveler is the freedom from many of the fears which formerly attacked those who were journeying, for seldom does one hear anything regarding the good or bad effects at one time thought inseparable from change of climate or diet. Microbes and bacteria seem to have been relegated to oblivion, and even the habit of getting tired appears to have gone out of fashion. If now and then some "Aunty Doleful" or a disgruntled traveler tries to get an audience, it is rather an amusing object-lesson to note how quickly they are left and let alone.

Among one's fellow travelers one meets many students of Christian Science, and it is a pleasure to note the uniform persistence of the one theme, viz., unity, loyalty to Principle, obedience, and steadfastness; in other words, that each and all be true to the high purpose and the cause which they represent. One field in particular seems to have impressed the visitors in general. As some one said, in alluding to it, "it is a rich church." A brief mental inventory revealed something of its wealth, which consisted of a rich store of humility, vast possessions of brotherly love,—a veritable gold-mine,—its rich ore being the forgiving and forgetting of those things that are behind. Today the stranger rejoices in the unity which found outward expression in the beautiful church edifice, and the harmony so wonderfully expressed both without and within.

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