Editorial November 12, 1927 Issue

What We Understand

Albert F. Gilmore

Mrs. Eddy unites understanding with demonstration in a manner to make the former dependent upon the latter. What we grasp mentally, that is, what we believe, does not become understanding until proved by actual experience to be true. In "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 6) she writes that "the Science of Mind-healing is best understood in practical demonstration." And she adds this highly significant sentence: "The proof of what you apprehend, in the simplest definite and absolute form of healing, can alone answer this question of how much you understand of Christian Science Mind-healing."

It would scarcely be possible for words to convey more clearly the important fact that our understanding of divine science does not exceed our capacity for demonstration; and that understanding is to be proved by simple, definite healing, which shall be final in its completeness. How surely does our Leader divorce understanding from mere theory or belief! The actual measure of our understanding is to be had only by the demonstration we make in destroying error so effectually that the specific manifestations are no longer in evidence.

A person who had casually read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy remarked to a student of Christian Science: "I do not comprehend why you so constantly read that book. I read it through and understood it." The earnest student of Christian Science knows that the textbook contains the key to all spiritual understanding, and that in consequence assiduous study of it and persistent practical application of the truth it contains solve the problems of life, win salvation from every erroneous belief, and open the gates of heaven.

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