Most of us know of some one in our immediate circle of friends and acquaintances who, though he may not be classed as among the intellectually brilliant or socially prominent, or as possessed of a superabundance of the world's riches, commands the sincere respect of all. Why? Because he is probably a man whose prime object in life is to be right in his every dealing with his fellow men,—to think calmly, speak gently, and act kindly; to make honesty not a matter of mere policy, but of Principle; so-called "white lies" and the oft-excused "extenuating circumstances" finding no sympathy from him.

Such an individual is possessed of what is termed a good character. He is striving daily to perfect it. He does not have to tell anybody what he is trying to do. Probably he is too busy trying to do right to care about playing the role of the self-righteous Pharisee. His life tells the story much more vividly than could words. He has recognized to some extent the demands of Principle, and what to others seems to be an unusual virtue or an uncommon gift of self-control is but the constant operation of this basic law and order in his consciousness, guiding and governing every thought and action according to the pattern which has been shown him. No man has a monopoly of this fundamental truth, but all can make use of it if they will.

Every right-minded person has the desire to arrive some day at the perfect stature of manhood. Few succeed in reaching this point, however, because the vast majority look upon human shortcomings and weaknesses as a necessary part of man's existence and therefore powerful; hence, if mortals do not go down under their defects, they endeavor to shape the course of their lives in the straight and narrow way by fighting these weaknesses with the human will. It is plain that that which is real cannot be destroyed or overcome. Therefore, so long as people believe that evil is real and powerful, their efforts to overcome it will be rewarded, at best, with only temporary success. Sheer force of human will may, for a time, suppress the conditions, but this method is neither more nor less than error pittted against error, constituting a house divided against itself, which cannot stand. It is plain that if human will is the cause of mental and moral defects, it cannot heal those defects. The remedy must be sought in another direction.

It is here that Christian Science comes to the rescue and breaks the spell of blind endeavor. Like the Master of old, it commands mortals to cast their nets on the right side, on the side of divine Mind instead of on the side of human will. It does this by showing that God is good, that He never made evil, never made erring mind, and that it is possible for men to prove today the words of Jesus, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Christian Science teaches that God is not a corporeal being, but that He is divine Mind, Life, Truth, Love, "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." It follows, therefore, that man in the image and likeness of God must be like Him. Man's consciousness must be a reflection of God's thought; and since God's thoughts are perfect and immutable, man's must be perfect and immutable also. Thus the real man can entertain no thoughts and have no characteristics unlike God, good.

It therefore follows that weaknesses and shortcomings, when examined in the light of Christian Science, are found to be illusions, part of the erroneous belief that man in the image and likeness of God is material, human—the very antipode in quality of God. God's man is spiritual—he cannot be unlike God. This belief about man as material ultimates in another belief; namely, that man has a mind apart from God, which is as variable and as unreliable as the winds. In the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, we read that "through discernment of the spiritual opposite of materiality, even the way through Christ, Truth, man will reopen with the key of divine Science the gates of Paradise which human beliefs have closed, and will find himself unfallen, upright, pure, and free, not needing to consult almanacs for the probabilities either of his life or of the weather, not needing to study brainology to learn how much of a man he is" (p. 171).

When this realization dawns upon the consciousness, the discords which before seemed to be a part of existence, grow weaker and weaker until they finally disappear; the dishonesty, selfishness, envy, rivalry, and any desire to take unfair advantage of our fellow beings is "put off." Life becomes a constant endeavor to do right,—"to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure" (Science and Health, p. 497). No matter how far down one may be, no matter how utterly hopeless one may be in the eyes of the world, no matter how burdened with evil habits, eccentricities, or peculiarities, Christian Science can make one over anew. For what say the Scriptures on this point? Even this: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Christian Science enables us to mold character so closely after the divine ideal that the command, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," ceases to be a mere visionary saying,—it is a demonstrable possibility.