Article October 4, 1924 Issue

True Transcendentalism

MATILDA J. HOFFMAN

On page 492 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes, "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence." We frequently hear the remark made that Christian Scientists are too transcendental,—meaning that they are given to a sort of daydreaming, believing in a vague something which has no real existence or reality.

Webster's dictionary defines the word "transcend" as "to rise above or beyond;" and transcendentalism as the "true knowledge of all things, ... so far as the mind is capable of knowing them." On page 301 of Science and Health, in speaking of the real man, Mrs. Eddy says: "He reflects the divine, which constitutes the only real and eternal entity. This reflection seems to mortal sense transcendental, because the spiritual man's substantiality transcends mortal vision and is revealed only through divine Science." Here is a definite and concise explanation of the fact that real and eternal verities are cognized only through spiritual sense, and this, to the extent that the transcending thought is capable of comprehending these truths. This does not mean that Christian Scientist walk with their heads in the clouds or are visionaries. The true Christian Scientist knows that the human footsteps cannot be ignored; neither does he wish to ignore them. That is the very reason why Christian Science is available in human affairs, and is such a blessed and practical religion.

The great Teacher and Way-shower of humanity never ignored human experiences. Jesus manifested the Christ; his thoughts always transcended material beliefs; and this enabled him to heal instantaneously. Knowing the law of Life, which transcends the belief of death, he was able to raise Lazarus and others from the dead. Knowing the law of infinite supply, which transcends the belief of lack, he fed the multitude. Knowing the law of divine Love, which transcends the belief of hate, he rolled the stone away from the sepulcher. And here is an important fact,—he showed himself only to those who had been his followers before this experience, to those whose thoughts had somewhat transcended material sense. When he appeared to Mary, he admonished her not to cling to the personal Jesus, saying, "Touch me not." It is related in Matthew that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, into a high mountain and was transfigured before them. The consciousness of his disciples was so uplifted that they beheld a vision of eternal life. Their thought had transcended in some degree the material sense of things.

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