Article September 1, 1917 Issue

The Signature

PERCY M. HOLDSWORTH

INCIDENTS of experience ofttimes bring to the student of Christian Science cause for profitable study, as the following instance illustrates. A party of men were returning from a convention at which had been represented corporations and industries of great material wealth and power. In the party were several who had in their hands the control of large affairs, and a group of three men included one of these. During their conversation the man of affairs spoke modestly, in answer to inquiry, of his own work. As an executive officer of several closely associated corporations it was his duty to handle matters of great moment, and on occasion to sign for the head of these companies most important papers. He had also, through years of proven worth, become so conversant with the affairs of this man who was the dominant head, that the latter had given to him power of attorney to conduct his personal investments and sign his name when necessary.

The incidents related were of more than passing interest to one member of this group, for he was a student of Christian Science, using his growing understanding to distinguish between absolute truth and material belief, and seeking always to know the spiritual fact. Thus in the following days he turned over in thought two words, "sign" and "name," which had impressed him as they were spoken.

Among the definitions of the noun "sign" are the following : "That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token ; an indication ; a proof." One dictionary also used this illustration : "The kings and earls themselves . . . could only make some mark or sign for the name, and it is from that custom that we have learned to speak of signing our names." Definitions of "name" were : "A descriptive or qualifying appellation given . . . on account of character or acts." "Reputed character ; reputation, good or bad." Thus it was seen that to sign another's name was to indicate his character, and so through the years in which the man of affairs had acted as agent for his superior, the papers signed had been the agent's expression of his superior's desires, will, and character.

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