Article August 15, 1931 Issue

"The Christian Scientist has enlisted"

MILDRED SEIDENSTICKER

More than half a century ago Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, wrote on page 450 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good." Webster defines the word "enlist," in part, as "to enter heartily into a cause." To-day, unnumbered thousands of Christian Scientists have enlisted in the holy warfare of proving evil to be unreal; and they are doing this courageously, joyously, because the destruction of evil means the coming of that glad day when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." So they are forwarding the day of universal salvation.

As we pause and look about at the seeming defiance of evil, we are apt to think that the world has sunk into a more chaotic condition than ever before. But the Christian Scientist will not be mesmerized by this appearance! In speaking of these conflicting forces, our Leader has said (Science and Health, p. 96), "The breaking up of material beliefs may seem to be famine and pestilence, want and woe, sin, sickness, and death, which assume new phases until their nothingness appears." And ringing down through the corridors of time are heard the words of Jesus, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Christian Science shows us just how to obey this injunction.

The suggestion may come to us that before we became students of Christian Science life flowed along we or less like a song; that since we took up this vast subject our problems seem multiplied and living more complicated than ever. But we soon discover that before we knew of this blessed truth life held no real purpose; it offered us no definite goal, and its song held very little melody. Though we knew it not, we were often simply drifting downstream, headed, as it were, for the open sea. We knew not how to carry out our good resolves. Now the old order of things has passed away. We are headed upstream. We are pushing heavenward. The waters may be rough, but each honest effort made brings us one stroke nearer to our destination. And the Christ-presence, which accompanies us all the way, ever tenderly whispers, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

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