Article February 12, 1916 Issue

Our Help and Hope

GERTRUDE M. HIGGINS

It is not possible to state in adequate terms the change which takes place in the consciousness of an individual when once the glorious light of Christian Science has shone upon him, and when it is given a place in his consciousness where it may continue to shine. This change is not confined merely to the opinions and beliefs which might be classed as his own, that is, what he himself once believed, but it is found that he no longer holds or consents to the beliefs entertained by the majority of persons with whom he comes in contact.

Among the many false beliefs, too common to most people, perhaps no one is more firmly held in thought and with more disastrous effects than that time—days and weeks and months and years—passes and nothing satisfactory or worth while seemingly is being accomplished, although the average person is desirous of doing some good in the world if only the way were made clear. This common belief does not tend to make for happiness or peace either for one's self or for others, nor does it invigorate or uplift thought and thereby lighten one's cares and burdens, or add pleasure to the duties which he is called to perform; rather does it depress energy with the unpleasant mental picture of ultimate helplessness and disability, until mortals are fittingly described as those "having no hope, and without God in the world." Mankind fall very far short of relying for strength upon the God whom they have perhaps heard of through early Christian training, and those who have been taught the lessons of Christian Science surely owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Eddy for teaching, in a way that all can well understand, what God is and what He has done and is able to do for the children of men.

Some years ago the writer attended a service held on the last night of the year in large city church. This service was what is known as a watch-meeting, and was for the observance of the passing of the old year and the ushering in of the new one. As the church of which she was then a member held no like service, this one was in the nature of a novelty; therefore the sacredness of church service, supposedly held for the worship of God, was not uppermost in thought, and ritual and sermon went on with apparently little if any interest to her. At the midnight hour, however, when the bells of the city began to ring in the new year, the service closed with the singing of the hymn beginning,—

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