Article September 6, 1919 Issue

Relief

FREDERICK R. RHODES

A LARGER sense of what rightly constitutes the true idea of relief has been gradually but surely unfolded to humanity through the activities of the Christian Science War Relief rooms, through which splendid work was accomplished all over the United States of America, France, and the United Kingdom. Many are the expressions of deep gratitude not only from those who were at the head of the various departments of the service, but especially from the women and men who found these true resting places a real help in their various needs. Although good work was done through various agencies in providing for the material comfort of those wearing the uniform of the Allies, a great opportunity certainly remained for the Christian Science movement to supply that which would minister to the higher needs of the soldiers.

It has been the privilege of the writer to see a great deal of work done through The Mother Church War Relief fund, and also through the Camp Welfare activities, and it is extremely gratifying to watch the splendid results obtained through the spiritual understanding which lies back of these various activities. If we do our best to think in accord with right, then our Father-Mother God, who is always working with us, will see that this best is blessed and will give the increase. This is the direct result of right desire, and conscious, constant right desire is prayer without ceasing. This consistent and persistent effort to think rightly, has therefore the omnipotent power of omnipresent Truth behind it and must successfully overcome all the many and varied attacks which mortal mind opposition can claim to launch against it. This conscious desire to think in harmony with divine Love is the procurer of the only true relief from any discordant human condition. Spiritual thinking, being man's conscious ability to reflect God, is in reality his true prerogative, and when once he becomes conscious of this fact, he is lifted above the power of any discordant conditions to interfere with his constant sense of harmony; in other words, he enters into at-one-ment with true relief.

The one who is determined to gain a genuine victory over the world and its lying suggestions of poverty, sin, sickness, and the like, soon realizes that such a victory can be gained only by meeting the erroneous beliefs of the carnal mind or physical senses, and overcoming them through exact knowledge of the truth. As our Leader says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 118), "The warfare with one's self is grand." Therefore one sees that every adverse circumstance, of whatever name or nature, can be overcome through the knowledge of Truth, and thus used as a stepping-stone to a higher recognition of the omnipotence of God, in whom we have placed our trust. We, like Paul, can then take pleasure in overcoming the adverse conditions which come up to be met. The spiritual atmosphere of our Christian Science War Relief rooms proved the power of right thought to draw those desiring the enduring and true, and also to show those who come how to gain such a state of consciousness. This is clearly indicated by the fact that it was not necessary to placard the walls with a number of "Don'ts," since it was assuredly the pure atmosphere of truth and purity which did the work.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Relief

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access