Article September 16, 1916 Issue

Application

KATE D. GRANT POHL

In Christian Science, as in every other subject, reading and study make the well-informed person, while application makes the practical student. To those who have read Christian Science literature is given the right to speak with some measure of correctness about its teaching. Those who have applied these teachings in every-day living can speak from experience.

One may watch an air-ship in flight, read how it is managed, but he must learn the rules by which it is operated and apply them before he can operate it himself. Even then the first few attempts may not be successful, because of ignorance concerning some detail in the mode of operation. Thus we may read and perhaps recite the first commandment every week for years, but this does not signify unless we obey it. There is need always to guard against anger, irritation, annoyance, faultfinding, for these are "the little foxes" that seem to make us forget or neglect to apply what we do know. Often the remedy lies at hand; the rule is known, but it must be applied.

A simple experience of applying what has been read has helped me in after experiences, and is recounted in the hope that some one else may find it useful. One afternoon, in reading "Unity of Good" by Mrs. Eddy, my attention was held by these words on page 17: "Be allied to the deific power, and all that is good will aid your journey." They were learned by heart, and that night there was occasion to use them, for my little boy was troubled and fretful, and kept waking me during the night. Finally about half past four o'clock in the morning he seemed to settle into repose and with a feeling of relief I sought my own sleep. When in a few minutes he awoke again crying, my first impulse was one of annoyance and discouragement; then, remembering our Leader's advice to be allied with the deific power and all that was good would help us, I resolutely turned from the sense of material discord, and lifting thought to God, declared for His power and presence. At this point a little bird flew on to the trellis near the child's bed and began his morning song of gladness. The child's attention was caught, he stopped crying, and in a few minutes fell quietly asleep. He slept for three hours and awoke well; all fretfulness had vanished and a happy day followed.

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