Editorial August 2, 1919 Issue

Demonstration

Ella W. Hoag

Every Christian Scientist is vitally interested in the subject of demonstration. Nothing can be of greater importance to him than to understand how to apply the truth which the Christian Science textbooks reveal. He starts out with the recognition that in Christian Science he has a perfect Science, but he also quickly becomes aware of the fact that it is only as he demonstrates it, or in other words, puts its rules into practice, that it can be of any advantage to him. Now there is a vast difference between repeating the rules and putting them into practice, and it is right here that students of Christian Science need to differentiate. The Bible and all of Mrs. Eddy's writings contain a great number of rules, and these rules hold their own very important place in the practice of Christian Science, for without definite rules there would be no method of demonstration.

Take for example the very familiar paragraph in Science and Health (p. 495) beginning, "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea." This paragraph contains several definite rules, which tell one specifically what he is to do under certain circumstances in order to bring about certain results. There is probably no one who pretends to be a Christian Scientist who has not repeated this paragraph scores of times. One sees very quickly that it is made up of rules, and then he may jump to the conclusion that the words have of themselves a demonstrative efficacy and that by repetition of them over and over again the desired result will be effected.

To cling to the mere words and to them alone is simply to cling to the letter, which Paul tells us "killeth." A little clear thinking shows us why this is so,—because it is giving power to the form and not to the substance. It is the truth the words stand for which is the power, and it takes more than a mere repetition of words to bring their substance into realization. It is at this point we must watch lest we break the third commandment. We are told not to take the name of the Lord our God in vain, and when we use the words of Truth simply as a formula are we not using vainly the thoughts of holy Mind?

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