There is no doubt that mankind is seeking the kingdom of heaven which Jesus declared was at hand. He said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, defines "heaven" in Science and Health (p. 590) as "the reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme." We necessarily conclude that in order to enter into the kingdom of harmony, which is the realm of unerring Mind, one must be possessed of the understanding of what constitutes this state of consciousness, namely, freedom from all discord.

Jesus also declared, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." In a following verse he continues, "In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." In the scientific interpretation of "angels," as given in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 581), we find: "God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect;" consequently we conclude that Jesus was pointing out that the child thought, which intuitively recognizes good in everything it is not wrongly warned against, is an illustration of the thought to be attained in order that we may enter the kingdom of heaven—harmony.

The infant sees the flower of the so-called poisonous plant, and with a little ejaculation of delight proceeds to pluck it, and often to put it into his mouth, utterly unconscious of any quality but good in it until the fear of parent or guardian, inculcated by false education of material life, so called, comes in excitedly to warn the little one of the impending danger. Many instances have been cited of utter fearlessness in the child consciousness. Children have often been found playing with animals considered dangerous, with no thought of anything but good and love; consequently no harm or discord, the opposite of harmony, could come in. The child thinks every one his friend, giving trust and confidence. A sister-in-law of the writer was once horrified to enter her kitchen and behold an exceptionally dirty tramp sitting at the table, being served with all that the baby hands of her little boy in blue pinafore could procure.

The child also manifests forgiveness. No matter how severely the little one has been punished by its mother, it has proved the invariable rule in the writer's experience that immediately little arms have been thrown around her neck, and declarations of love made that brought an answering wave of compassion and regret for having had to administer what she considered justice. Likewise do we find truthfulness, honesty, purity, lack of conceit, a full rendering unto others of the good which is theirs, thus disarming malpractice of any nature. We find, too, a natural willingness in the child to share with others its possessions—until taught by its elders that it must keep its things for itself. Who cannot remember the infant hand, extended to give the treasured toy which some one has been admiring in its hands? Or when asked playfully for a bite of the food which the child is enjoying, how promptly the morsel is placed at one's lips for sharing. There is surely in this consciousness no thought of limitation or of that selfishness which masquerades under the sham of self-preservation taught in a homely adage as "looking out for number one."

Since studying Christian Science and teaching in the Sunday school, the writer has found that much may be learned from the children, and that there are, in reality, no "little minds"—that, by the very reason of their ignorance of material conditions or conclusions, their thoughts are in close communion with the one Mind. When children who are still free from the taint of self-centeredness produced through wrong instruction, are asked to perform any task within range of their capability (the fact being that they will not admit incapability until repeatedly assured that they cannot do such and such a thing) there is immediate and joyful response to the trust reposed in them and no thought of questioning. On the other hand, as false education develops selfishness, there is often a tardy response, if not complaint, and a request that the task be given to another.

Here is room for application of a searching analysis of their thoughts by children of a larger growth. When an opportunity comes to us for service for our Father, do we accept it gladly, thanking Him for the trust reposed, or do we selfishly try to impose it on some older sister or brother? Perhaps one has come to us for help in Christian Science. This is surely an opportunity to work for God. Do we thank Him for intrusting to us a sacred mission, or do we through fear, self-depreciation, or indifference, send the troubled one to an older practitioner, who, we say, trying to salve our conscience, can do the work more efficiently? Is not this a tendency to shift responsiblity to some one else, and is not our attitude to God the same as that of the self-centered child who says, complainingly, "Let brother go," or "Let sister do it"? We must remember that the older practitioner, or office-holder in church it may be, stood once just where we stand, and it was this unselfish motive and a firm trust in God's will, in other words obedience, that caused him to attain to his present status and receive the reward of obedience. Failing to give, we should not complain over a failure to receive.

Is it any wonder that we, as Christian Scientists, are daily engaged in the work of purifying human consciousness of the false training and reasoning from a material basis, and striving to obey Jesus' command to become as a little child? This is no small task, when we consider that mortal mind is one vast bundle of mistakes; but we daily strive, thanking God for the life of one pure enough to discern spiritual truth in the midst of this maelstrom of error. Jesus' answer to Nicodemus is our answer to-day, and only as we truly are "born again" can we see the kingdom of heaven.