Editorial November 8, 1930 Issue

Essentials to Success

Clifford P. Smith

For every endeavor that promises desirable results, there are to be found a few essential or fundamental requirements. Thus, the essentials to success in any important undertaking are likely to include activity, earnestness, and an intelligent grasp of what is involved in the particular work. Christian Science furnishes no exception to this general rule. The practice of this religion, whether for one's self or in a larger way, promises highly desirable results, and its requirements are few and simple. Besides activity and earnestness, they include good character and an intelligent grasp of mental situations. This last requirement includes the diligent use of an appropriate mental and spiritual technique.

Since Christian Science is a devotional religion, the development of good character is indispensable to major success in its practice. It is to be observed that the chapter on "Christian Science Practice" in Mrs. Eddy's principal work, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 362—442), does not begin with directions for mental treatment. From the beginning of this chapter one can read more than a dozen pages before finding any instruction as to what should be done mentally in a particular situation. In fact, hardly half of this chapter is given to such instructions. Much of what a thoughtful reader does find in this chapter on mental practice illustrates what the author has declared succinctly in another work (Christian Healing, p. 14): "Metaphysical healing includes infinitely more than merely to know that mind governs the body and the method of a mental practice."

Thus, the chapter just mentioned begins with an incident in the life of Jesus which Mrs. Eddy interprets as teaching contrition, repentance, and reverence, consecration, gladness, and gratitude, compassion, humanity, and patience, sympathy, affection, and love. "Common humanity," "Christly affection," and "a priceless sense of the dear Father's loving kindness" (pp. 365, 366), these are expressions by which the author emphasizes the need of Christian character for the practice of Christian Science. This requirement precedes any proficiency which can be called technical. In short, whoever intends to practice Christian Science, either for himself or in a more extensive way, needs to cultivate continually the characteristics, the qualities of thought, which involve contact and unity with divine Principle.

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