Article October 6, 1934 Issue

What We Mean by Demonstration

[Written Especially for Young People]

E. OLIVE DAVIS

Although Christian Science is applicable to our every human problem and is available in every circumstance of our lives, young Christian Scientists who wish to learn to be truly scientific Christians need to analyze the motives which lie behind the desire to make what we call a demonstration. Occasionally we hear remarks similar to these: "We must do our Science work to win that game;" or, "I asked mother to work so that I might pass that examination." Perhaps the words do not really convey the speakers' thought, but too often we find young Christian Scientists, and sometimes those of older growth, trying to utilize the Science of Mind selfishly to bring about some material result, or to bring to pass some material situation. This, of course, is impossible, for Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 514), "Mind, joyous in strength, dwells in the realm of Mind."

Now what should be the accurate, scientific way of thinking about the problems which come into our everyday experience as students in school? Let us take for example athletics, in which most students have a keen interest. A Christian Scientist who is a member of an athletic team about to play a game can legitimately know that man, as God's likeness, expresses in infinite measure intelligence, alertness, activity, strength, wisdom, judgment—indeed, every needful quality of thought. This truth is equally applicable to all of his team mates, and to all of his opponents. Filling his thought with such helpful truths, he is then content to let the result determine in what measure he has given proof of the qualities of thought demanded by such an occasion. A victory in the game may give the student encouraging evidence of progress being made in certain directions; a defeat may point to qualities of thought not yet claimed and demonstrated in his experience. St. Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

So with his scholastic work. A Christian Scientist daily strives to prove in his living that he is a son of God. If a student is learning to express intelligence, industry, application, memory, judgment, in his studies, his use of his time, his honest desire to accomplish the tasks assigned to him, he is likely to express these qualities on examination day, because they are eternally true of God's child. "The Divine Being must be reflected by man,—else man is not the image and likeness of the patient, tender, and true, the One 'altogether lovely'" (Science and Health, p. 3). At examination time the Christian Scientist can avail himself of the comforting and reassuring truth about God and man. He can be conscious of God's presence, thereby eliminating fear. He can depend on the one divine Mind, and not on a supposititious mind in brain. And in the measure that he understands them and has made them his own in his everyday experience he will prove these facts to be true.

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What We Mean by Demonstration

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