Article July 3, 1920 Issue

Examination

NELLIE A. GREEN

To examine means to test one's knowledge of or qualification in a subject,—to put to the proof. Paul writes, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." The student when examined on any subject is tested by his knowledge of it and put to prove what he knows. It must be what he knows about the subject, for he could not prove a problem in mathematics, for instance, that another had worked out unless he himself understood it. He could not advance to higher studies until the simpler fundamentals were thoroughly mastered.

In the study of Christian Science the student's knowledge is tested by the force of circumstances and his sincerity and honesty are put to proof. Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 21): "If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy." Even in studying so-called material subjects the student finds he must banish all distracting thoughts, and then there is no obstacle to hinder his gaining the required knowledge. One subject may be grasped quickly while another takes much more time and effort, but the knowledge more slowly attained may be just as necessary at examination time as that which came more easily.

The student in Christian Science may be studying daily the Lesson-Sermon and doing such reading as he believes necessary to insure harmonious relations with his fellow man, but he must go higher. He must advance in the study and practice of Truth by test,—examination. The student must reject all that material sense believes about the problem to be solved, and search for the truth, the spiritual sense, or what God knows about it. If he is seeking with his whole heart,—and God requires a whole heart,—the way will be opened through the right unfoldment for the seeker of Truth, making clear the ever present power of God, good, and the relationship of Mind and idea, which is for all to know. He will gain the solution and prove his work by results, realizing the presence of peace, happiness, wholeness, and applying to himself Paul's question, "Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"

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