Article May 2, 1914 Issue

"Let us not sleep"

ADELA S. HAWLEY

It was recently said to the writer by one who was just beginning to investigate Christian Science, "If Christian Scientists would only speak and live, or show that they are trying to live, the pure, simple truths which are found in Science and Health, how quickly the world's prejudice, criticism, and misunderstanding would disappear! The wrong impression I had of its teachings, which prevented me from looking into it, grew out of the misstatement and misrepresentation of these truths by those who were counted as its followers." The one who made this comment was led to see that Christian Science does not instantly transform into perfect beings those who came to it for healing; that many who come into its ranks have not outgrown their old impulsiveness, and, with a zeal "not according to knowledge," often make statements and use expressions which are very ill advised and unfortunate. That this comment was made, and that it was, even in a degree, a true comment, caused the writer to study the situation more closely, and thus to note some mortal tendencies to which we all need to be awake, thereby to be saved from expressing in either word or deed that which would misrepresent the cause we all love.

On page 547 of Science and Health our Leader has said, "The Scriptures are very sacred. Our aim must be to have them understood spiritually, for only by this understanding can truth be gained." It must follow that Christian Science is "very sacred," since the text-book of this Science is a "Key to the Scriptures." Because of her rare spiritual insight Mrs. Eddy was able to discern the spiritual truth of the Scriptures, to apprehend the Principle of being, and to state the provable rules for its demonstration so intelligible as to make it possible for each one to prove the truth for himself. Well may we ask ourselves, as we ponder her great achievement: Am I thankful? Am I improving every opportunity afforded me to gain a larger understanding of this teaching? Am I doing aught to hinder or obstruct the stately advance of this great movement? Surely it is well for us to reason with ourselves on this subject, to find out what errors of omission or commission have been ours in the past, and then set about correcting them.

It is the duty and privilege of all Christian Scientists to speak "every man truth with his neighbor," according to his highest understanding of God; to let this light of Truth so shine in his words and deeds that men may be attracted, not repelled, thereby. If we maintain a state of consciousness wherein the Christ-ideal is uplifted and "love for God and man is the true incentive" (Science and Health, p. 454) for thought and action, we will immediately help to supply an atmosphere wherein the weary and sin-sick will find rest and health. There will be a pure, spiritual thought pervading the place, and this will make itself felt and bring to all that sense of peace which dissolves mortal resistance to Truth into its native nothingness.

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