Editorial July 11, 1931 Issue

Spiritual Building

Duncan Sinclair

To mankind matter seems to be real—very real at times; and material sense, if believed in, ultimates in sin, disease, or some other form of error with which the so-called human mind appears to be acquainted. Material sense, then, is the deceiver which has to be overcome. The Christian Scientist recognizes this and is aware of the necessity for spiritualization of thought, since this alone will enable him to master materiality.

But how, more particularly, is material sense to be overcome? By purification of thought through spiritual understanding. And of what does spiritual understanding consist? As Christian Science reveals, it is in part the knowledge that our real selves are spiritual and perfect; for this Science teaches that the real man, our real selfhood, is the idea or reflection of God, the one perfect Spirit or Mind. When, then, the Christian Scientist thinks of material sense, he does not regard it as real, or as informing him of the truth of being; he knows that it is unreal, and that it never can acquaint him with reality—that which is absolutely true. With this understanding, it should not be difficult for him to begin to dissociate himself from what in belief prevents the unfoldment of his true spiritual nature. At the same time he by no means is oblivious to the necessity of the complete evangelization of the material sense of self.

On page 241 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes: "We should strive to reach the Horeb height where God is revealed; and the cornerstone of all spiritual building is purity. The baptism of Spirit, washing the body of all the impurities of flesh, signifies that the pure in heart see God and are approaching spiritual Life and its demonstration." It is highly significant that, as our Leader says, "the corner-stone of all spiritual building is purity." Purity, and still greater purity, is therefore demanded of us. And it should be remembered that purity has a wide signification: it means freedom, not from one form of evil only, but from all forms of evil. Indeed, absolute purity denotes entire freedom from materiality.

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