During our early attempts to master the rudiments of Christian Science the question naturally arises, How does the Christian Scientist pray? We may have been drawn to this religion because our past earnest efforts at prayer have too often proved unavailing; or, where the desired results were instantly realized, we have been at a loss to account for the blessed experience until, happily for some of us, the elucidation was found in the teachings of Christian Science.

There is no mystery concerning answered prayer, save the mystery that it has taken the human race so long to find the way, now made so clear in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. It is a well-known fact that many professed Christians have come to pray without the logical expectation of answer thereto. For such, prayer, although a daily duty, is performed without due consideration as to motive and desire. Whenever the human heart reaches out to God in the way of His appointing, however, prayer is instantly answered; for the reason that such prayer and the answer are one.

On page 2 of Science and Health we read, "What are the motives for prayer?" And Mrs. Eddy adds in the same paragraph, "The desire which goes forth hungering after righteousness is blessed of our Father, and it does not return unto us void." The Christian Scientist daily asks himself this question and turns the searchlight of his understanding of Truth upon his immost thoughts and desires, lest wrong motives slip in unawares. The golden thread of answered prayer, gleaming through the web of religious history and personal experience, has sufficed to keep the devoutly inclined hopefully prayerful, until the full effulgence of the light of spiritual day dawned on a darkened world through the teachings of Christian Science. Gladness and gratitude for this great revelation should attend the footsteps of him who would pray aright.

Who has not been, in times of dire need, cheered and uplifted by the narration of the genuine religious experiences of friends? In the face of repeated failure to receive the blessings sought through prayer, pondering over such experiences has proved to us that the failure is with the individual, and not with God. It may not be out of place here to mention an illustrative instance. During the early settlement of the Middle West, a young man was employed as teacher in a rural school. The leader of a disturbing group in the school was a young rowdy, who persisted in defying the teacher until it seemed that nothing would avail to maintain order save corporeal punishment. This was resorted to with reluctance, as the father of the refractory pupil was known to be a man of pugilistic tendencies. At the close of the school day the teacher remained in the room for some time, and upon looking out of a window saw the father of the chastised pupil hastily approaching the building with an angry look on his face. The young teacher, knowing that he was no match for the man, was instantly filled with fear; and believing the situation to be desperate he fell upon his knees, crying, "O God, help that man to know I meant only good." Moments passed, and as a sense of strength and peace took the place of weakness and fear the teacher arose from his knees, to see the man he had feared striding away in the direction of his home; and that was the last of the unhappy incident. Years passed ere it was seen, through the understanding of another in Christian Science, that when one earnestly and devoutly prays that "only good" be made manifest to his supposed enemy, that prayer is instantly answered. This result is inevitable; since all true prayer is inspired by God, who is infinite good.

It may be seen from the above instance that the benefit from the prayer was immediate and far-reaching. For the teacher the happy experience remained in memory, lighting the way through the varied vicissitudes of life and finally directing his steps to the open doorway of Christian Science. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 10) Mrs. Eddy writes: "We have no enemies. Whatever envy, hatred, revenge—the most remorseless motives that govern mortal mind—whatever these try to do, shall 'work together for good to them that love God.'"

Similar instances might be related by the devout in any age, and with like sequence: live forgiving its enemies; the desire for good for our neighbor; the unconscious prayer of purity and innocence, saving from unknown dangers because dwelling "in the secret place of the most High." Several instances are related by Sibyl Wilbur in her book, "The Life of Mary Baker Eddy," of remarkable healings performed, first by the child Mary Baker, then, later, in her more mature years, but before the light of Christian Science had dawned upon her thought. Such were the calming of the dangerous lunatic, the healing of a blind child, and, finally, the raising of herself from what seemed about to be her deathbed. Thus we learn that the simplicity of holy purpose is the saving grace of prayer, and that the slightest taint of self-interest must be cast out of thought to enable us to find the approach to God. Material desires and spiritual apprehension are opposing systems, and can by no process of reasoning be found acting simultaneously.

Prayer to be effectual involves righteous desire on the part of him who prays. It demands honesty of intent and love for God and man. The only thought of self permissible is the desire for self-purification. The hope of material reward, the desire for worldly advancement, the secret longing for surcease from pain,—these are the stumbling-blocks to him who has not found the answer to prayer; and they stand as an impenetrable wall between himself and Spirit. To cling to personal interest while endeavoring to approach God in prayer is as if he who yearns to see the beautiful landscape beyond should with his own hands build a barricade shutting out the lovely prospect. Our loving Father has placed no barrier between Himself and His creation; any seeming obstruction is of our own making, and within our own power to remove. The mission of the Christian Scientist of to-day follows that of Christ Jesus. It is, to bear witness to mankind of the truth of being. The nature of Jesus' mission was fully stated when he declared to Pilate, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."

Availing prayer rests upon the fact that God is the one and only creator, and that sin, disease, and death are unknown to Him. Thought to be Godlike must be constructive. Constructive reasoning, in accordance with the teachings of Christian Science concerning God and man, demonstrates freedom from evil. The Christian Scientist, through this understanding of Truth and willingness to avail himself of it, can prove what James tells us,—that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Copyright, 1922, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.