Article July 8, 1916 Issue

"Joy of the whole earth"

INEZ KOCH

The student of Christian Science finds valuable lessons in the experiences of each day and rejoices to see the upward trend of thought in so many directions. The writer remembers attending a pageant of South African history which took place at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain at Cape Town. The beauty and grandeur of the surroundings made an unforgettable impression on the spectator, but the last scene of the pageant proved to be so uplifting in its spiritual meaning that it seems worth special mention. It was an allegorical presentation of recent and current events, in which the troubles and sorrows of war between contesting nations were represented by draped figures in black hovering in the deep shadow cast by the setting sun. Then in the glory of the sun's last rays appeared a troop of little children clad in silver, who with boughs of silver-leaf ran after the somber figures and with happy smiles of childish glee drove them away, till they disappeared from sight.

This scene was obviously symbolical of good overcoming evil, of love overcoming hate, and to the student of Christian Science it was doubly significant, since our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, teaches "that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death" (p. 304). It is the understanding of this, gained through the study of Science and Health, which uplifts thought to see the city which "lieth foursquare," and which the psalmist describes as "the joy of the whole earth."

Christian Science is truly "the joy of the whole earth," for it contains not even the shadow of sorrow; it is the glorious light of apprehension of God's ever-presence, the allness of good. Divine Truth heals all wounds and effaces the scars that tell of mortal strife, and it is significant that it is the childlike thought which, as in the allegory, is necessary to destroy evil beliefs. It is the joyous happiness and trust in the Father's presence and loving care, which safely guides us all.

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