Article June 28, 1924 Issue

Value of Christian Science Treatment

WARWICK A. TYLER

When Judaism was being established, certain of its priests glimpsed the great fact that in seeking the things of Spirit the individuals of the nation must first express a willingness to part with material things; hence the elaborate system of offerings and sacrifices prescribed by the Levitical holiness codes. No more certain means could have been devised for impressing a nomadic, primitive people than to teach them to surrender a portion of their store of cherished material possessions, more or less scanty, in acknowledgment of divinely bestowed guidance and protection. Throughout human history the record is clear that nothing worthy of achievement has been gained without persistent expenditure of thought and effort, and the renunciation or sacrifice of everything likely to hinder the accomplishment of the end desired.

An unfortunate thing about the Judaic system of sacrificial ceremonial was that the priests grew to love the emoluments it brought, in preference to the truths it was intended to symbolize. And naturally the people grew to believe that the prime object of sacrifice was the hoped for increase of material blessings, as well as the appeasement of an angry Deity. Consequently, a corrupt priesthood fattened upon a materially-minded people seeking to purchase immunity from merited punishment. Well might Samuel say: "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

Now, religion in its pure sense is that state of conduct or action which conforms to divine rule or law; and prayer is that condition of thought which leads one to this desired conformity, and which seeks to make it possible for others to take advantage of the deific law already established. A Christian Science treatment is prayer. Its purpose is to bring to the individual the realization of man's unity with God,—that man is now, ever has been, and ever will be the image and likeness, the reflection, the manifestation, the expression of the Almighty, ever present, all-wise, infinite divine Principle.

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