Unwillingness to learn has ever been the greatest foe to human progress. This is especially true of questions pertaining to religious teaching and practice. A man's religious belief is to him a thing of vital importance and he guards it with zealous care. This is as it should be. The most sacred thing on earth is the Christian's faith in God. Nothing that this world can afford is to be compared with it. It is the inherent conviction of most persons that some form of religious faith should have a place in every man's life. Without it there is something lacking, and it is believed that the future, if not the present, will reveal the folly of neglecting so vital a matter. It is needless to say that every man is persuaded that his faith is right; that it is based on the correct interpretation of Biblical teaching; and if put into practice will receive, because it merits, the reward of obedience. Many persons have accepted, without questioning, whatever faith was presented to them. There are comparatively few who have considered seriously how or why they arrived at the conclusions which they consider fundamental and essential. The wise Christian is ever alert and he will not be deceived by the subtle suggestions of evil, which would, if possible, deceive the very elect; but the fear of being turned aside from the straight and narrow way has sometimes prevented progress and hindered that natural growth and development of faith which is necessary to a right apprehension of spiritual teachings.

There is occasionally a reluctance even to consider the possibilities of a more practical religious teaching, because of the fear that one may depart from the faith of his fathers if he is led to desire more than he has been taught to believe can reasonably be expected from the exercise of faith. For example, it is the belief of many that the prayer of faith can no longer heal the sick without the use of material remedies, and that it is unreasonable to expect it to do so. Hence the teaching of Christian Science, that the prayer of faith is just as effectual to heal the sick to-day as when the apostle James taught the people to rely on God alone, is regarded with suspicion, and there may be those who, like Saul, verily believe they are doing God service by opposing it.

Jesus was opposed, not so much because he taught the law and the prophets, as because he demonstrated that the truth revealed in law and prophecy could heal the sick, cast out devils, and even raise the dead. To the religionists of his day it seemed impossible that such works should result from the legitimate exercise of faith, and so they not only rejected the teaching but sought to prevent others from accepting it. They boasted that they were the children of Abraham; but how little did they realize that they had long since departed from the faith of Abraham. Because they were unwilling to learn, they could not comprehend even the simple things of the Master's teachings.

When the disciples of Jesus asked him who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, he replied, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." This was not the answer they had expected, but it pointed the way to harmony and revealed just what must be one's attitude of thought if one desires to understand Truth. The child is, above all else, willing to learn. He has no preconceived opinions to defend; no pet theories to advance; no questionable actions to justify. His only desire is to know. His desire to learn is equaled only by his willingness to learn; hence his oft repeated What? and Why? It makes no difference to the child what may be the answer to his question; his only thought is to have it answered. He has nothing to unlearn, hence it is easy to learn. But how different it is with the adult! There is so much that he already knows, or thinks he knows, and he is unwilling to accept anything which is not in accord with what he believes is the truth; he has preconceived opinions, and these are not to be sacrificed; there are certain pet theories which it is impossible for him to set aside. These things are a veritable wall of separation between him and anything new. How impossible it is for a man to learn when he is unwilling to learn! And how much it means to be willing to learn, whatever the cost to pride and self-will.

How truly has Mrs. Eddy written in Science and Health (p. 95), "Humanity advances slowly out of sinning sense into spiritual understanding; unwillingness to learn all things rightly, binds Christendom with chains." Unwillingness to learn affords error the opportunity that is needed to bind mortals with the bonds of sin, disease, and suffering. All men believe that nothing but truth can remove the effects of error. Is it not evident that no mere opinions of men can in any way determine what is truth? Why should mortals cling so tenaciously to human opinions when it is understood that nothing less than truth can avail? If a man is in error, it matters not how hard he may try to convince himself and others that his opinion is correct, his efforts can avail him nothing. In time the falsity of his belief must be revealed, because there is no truth in it. Solomon said, "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." As there is nothing in the child's thought to interfere with the ready acceptance of what he is taught, so the wise student is ever willing to learn. There is no pride of opinion or achievement to retard the unfolding of Truth in consciousness or to prevent the demonstration thereof.

In the beginning there was one Christian church, established on the teachings and works of Jesus. After a time, when speculation began to take the place of demonstration, differences of opinion arose. This resulted in the establishment of different doctrinal beliefs, or professions of faith. And so in place of one Christian denomination there are hundreds, all claiming to find authority in the same teaching. In past years the antagonism existing between various churches has sufficed to shake the faith of many in the practical value of religious teachings. It is evident that if Christian people had been as little children in their desire to learn spiritual truth, the church of Christ would long since have been established on earth, and there would have been, in the true sense of the word, "one fold, and one shepherd."

That Christian Science has reinstated primitive Christianity with its attendant blessings and benefits is the sincere conviction of thousands who have found health, happiness, and prosperity, after all material things had failed them. The healing works of the early Christians are repeated today, and they will remain to bless humanity so long as Christian Science, as taught by its Discoverer and Founder, Mary Baker Eddy, is understood and practiced. Mrs. Eddy saw that, as the ages advance, the students of Christian Science would be subjected to the same temptations which have beset mankind from the beginning. The desire to be thought original has caused many persons to lose sight of the fundamental and definite statements of Truth.

If personal preaching had continued, as in the early days of our movement, differences of opinion would have arisen. These differences would have found favor with those to whom they were acceptable, and the result would have been different schools or denominations of Christian Science. Here we see manifest the great wisdom of our Leader in establishing the present order of Sunday services. The same Lesson-Sermon is read in all the churches of our denomination. There is no personal interpretation or explanation. This form of service established true unity of thought and action, which must ever result in physical and moral healing.

Because Mrs. Eddy was willing to give up all for Truth, she discovered Christian Science. Speaking of her experience she writes in the Preface of Science and Health (p. ix), "To-day, though rejoicing in some progress, she still finds herself a willing disciple at the heavenly gate, waiting for the Mind of Christ." The student of Christian Science must ever be willing to be taught in God's appointed way. Mrs. Eddy repeatedly turned the thought of her students to her books. Concerning the work of the teachers of Christian Science she wrote (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 84): "That teacher does most for his students who divests himself most of pride and self, and by reason thereof is able to empty his students' minds of error, that they may be filled with Truth.... The less the teacher personally controls other minds, and the more he trusts them to the divine Truth and Love, the better it will be for both teacher and students." In countless other ways did Mrs. Eddy safeguard our cause, that future generations might receive the priceless heritage,—Christian Science unfettered by material hypotheses, uncontaminated by personal opinions.