Article October 4, 1919 Issue

Truth Recognized

KATHERINE E. VARGA

To those who are eagerly looking forward to the establishment on earth of the universal knowledge of God as omnipotent and omnipresent, there sometimes comes a sense of disappointment when friends and those dear to us show indifference after some study of the authorized literature of Christian Science. We should not, however, be troubled, for they will sooner or later long to know God. Does not the Bible say, "They shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them"? Our work for the hour is to apply to ourselves Jesus' counsel to Peter when he was unwisely concerned about what another should do. "What is that to thee? follow thou me." To wait patiently for the indifferent one to change his attitude is all we can do.

But there is another whom our heart yearns to help and assure, and that is the one who though sincere in his study still doubts whether Christian Science is of God and is the truth promised by Christ Jesus. To many of the students of Christian Science this phase of the mental journey is quite familiar, and when we think of those who are meeting this same condition to-day, it is comforting to read what Mrs. Eddy says on page 127 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "When a hungry heart petitions the divine Father-Mother God for bread, it is not given a stone,—but more grace, obedience, and love. If this heart, humble and trustful, faithfully asks divine Love to feed it with the bread of heaven, health, holiness, it will be conformed to a fitness to receive the answer to its desire." With the earnest hope that it may help some one to find God, who is Life, Truth, and Love, the writer is glad to tell of an experience in this connection which came to her, destroying once and for all the enemy, doubt.

When I commenced the study of Christian Science I was living in a large city in the middle West, but shortly afterwards came home to stay, bringing my books and plenty of enthusiasm but not much understanding, though I studied almost continually. I was an only child but had many near relatives, among whom were a number of uncles and aunts. I loved them dearly and they loved me, so it was the greatest surprise when they one and all not only refused to accept Christian Science, but assured me I was wrong in believing it to be of God. I stoutly maintained that I knew it was the truth, and never failed to take this stand when speaking with others, though in my own heart there was a turmoil going on and I was becoming confused. One day I would feel sure this was the truth which Jesus promised should free all mankind, only to think the next day that perhaps I was straying from God. This struggle kept up for about two weeks, when one day I took the Bible and, going away alone, prayed earnestly to God to show me the way. I knew no other way to receive His counsel than to open the Bible and trust to divine guidance to find the message. The devil did not forget to remind me that I had tried this method on other occasions and it had never led me to anything bearing on the subject, but I put the suggestion away and, feeling that God was with me, opened the book. There was no wondering this time which verse to read, for these words stood out as though the letters were of fire: "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

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