Article May 19, 1917 Issue

Greater Blessings

HORACE W. HEBBARD

There is no doubt that the great majority of those who now call themselves Christian Scientists were first attracted to this truth by the hope that they might through its ministrations be relieved of physical suffering, and very few ever expected to get any other benefit. Later on, however, it will be found that nearly all who have received the help for which they were looking, testify that the physical relief is the very smallest part of the blessings which have come to them, and that the spiritual uplift incident thereto far outweighs any other benefits.

This spiritual uplift is not often clearly described, because it seems difficult to find language which will accurately convey an apprehension of this condition to those who have not themselves experienced it. The writer well remembers, when he first took up the study of Christian Science, how this awakening came to him. A deep sense of peace and joy and contentment, love for God and love for his fellow men, seemed to take possession of him. Wherever he found himself, at work, on the street, or in the home, at all hours and under all circumstances, these words, so often quoted from the Bible, were constantly recurring to thought: "On earth peace, good will toward men."

At that time I was not familiar enough with the Bible to know that these were the identical words uttered by the heavenly hosts at the birth of Christ Jesus, as recorded in the second chapter of Luke; but I have since believed that at that time I had my part, as did the patriarchs of old, in the recognition of the divine idea, and that the eternal Christ, the living Truth, did come in some measure to my consciousness. It is interesting to note that at the time of Jesus' advent in the flesh, only the wakeful shepherds heard the angelic call. The world was full of people who needed this message, but they were so engrossed with beliefs in materiality that their ears were deaf and their eyes blind to spiritual things.

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