Article January 21, 1928 Issue

Study Essential to Progress

NATHAN H. WEIL

ANYONE who has walked through the heart of a large modern city park has had occasion to ponder the reason of meeting so few people, either walking to or from business, seeking recreation, or enjoying a stroll. As a rule people visiting the parks are to be found near their outer boundaries. One, however, who wends his way through their very midst will find greater beauty there. Small streams wind in their courses among woodland and mossy banks; hill and dale, carpeted with green grass, extend a glad welcome; birds of many species sing their songs, and cause the heart to be glad; fragrant flowers of many varieties are also there, and winding paths which may lead to some unseen beauty spot: but all these are out of sight to those satisfied with remaining at the edge of the park.

In the light of the understanding gained through the study of Christian Science, it is not difficult to see why mortals do not more readily seek the larger opportunities that lie before them. The human mind, supposed to govern mortals, is prone to plod along in the line of least resistance; everything is such an effort, it says! It produces in mortals a condition of laziness, indolence, inertia, indifference, lethargy, and stagnation, which prevents them from entering into the deeper joys and pleasures of life. So, when the higher and nobler things should arrest attention, they are content to approach them only along their outer edges, instead of engaging wholeheartedly in them with gladness and joy.

When someone, either through a relative, a friend, or a neighbor, hears of the healing or regenerating work done through Christian Science, an eagerness is expressed to look into the subject with a desire to read the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. He may feel convinced that the mere reading of this precious volume is all that is necessary to qualify him as a student of Christian Science. He continues along this course until confronted by some problem, which he cannot solve because of his lack of understanding of the divine Principle which Christian Science elucidates. He wonders why the solution is not being accomplished, and might even be heard to remark that So-and-so gets along well, while he does not appear to be making any progress. At this point in his experience, if he will turn the searchlight within for self-examination and correction it will be revealed to him that the mere reading of Science and Health will never alone fit him for demonstrating this Science; neither will reading alone qualify him as a student of it. Then, if he is ready for progress, he will set about studying the textbook, which ultimately will place him on the safe side of practice.

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