Article January 17, 1914 Issue

Tarrying in Jerusalem

EVA S. W. WILLIAMS

It is probable that at some time or other most Christian Scientists pass through a period when they imagine that some material step is demanded of them, some coming out from the midst of their customary surroundings, in order that they may be the more "endued with power from on high." They have not yet fully learned that the kingdom is within; that it is the preparation of the heart which is most needed; and that every betterment of their environment will be brought about through the working of divine Principle, when self-will has been rigidly excluded from activity. Most likely they have not given attention to Mrs. Eddy's injunction to students that they should not attempt to "make their moves before God makes His" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 117).

To one Christian Scientist the lesson which must be learned by all came home in the following way. When she began the study of Christian Science she was trying to meet, as satisfactorily as might be, two sets of duties, namely, home and business. It seemed right for a time to continue this; but then the idea came that a burnt offering should be laid upon the altar, in the form of a decision to abandon one sphere of work and devote herself entirely to the other, the one which seemed to need her most. The attempt to carry this determination into effect resulted in a veritable storm of protests, objections, and remonstrances, showing clearly that the time had not come for any such step. Neither did it come for a number of years, during which the Scientist was honestly desirous of doing what was right in this particular matter, and she had no choice but to meet as adequately as she could her part in the requirements of two separate establishments situated more than a mile apart.

There were many struggles, many dark hours when it seemed beyond the moral strength of the Scientist to "obey" and to "wait," to go on meeting the spoken or unspoken criticism of work done under what were, humanly speaking, very real difficulties; but it was only when she had learned to say with sincerity and with conviction, "Thy will be done," that the way opened into an entirely altered career. Results come slowly or quickly according to the mental receptivity of the student; but honest effort is never failure, since always and all the way it is leading up to a higher spiritual standpoint. "Love is not hasty to deliver us from temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified" (Science and Health, p. 22). For those whose progress seems slow there is encouragement also in Mrs. Eddy's lines, "To the Big Children" (Poems, p. 69), which end with the words,—

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