Article August 22, 1936 ISSUE

A great spiritual thinker, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer...

Roy G. Watson, Committee on Publication for the State of Texas, in a Baccalaureate Address to the graduates of Freeport High School,—Texas

Freeport Facts

A great spiritual thinker, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" that intelligence "is the primal and eternal quality of infinite Mind" (p. 469), and Webster defines intelligence as "the faculty of understanding."

An outstanding example of a man who turned to God in his search for this "faculty of understanding" is found in the story of Solomon. I am sure that most of you are familiar with the Bible narrative of how Solomon, the young Hebrew prince, upon his accession to the throne of his father, King David, was asked by God what He should give him. Solomon replied, "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad." This answer pleased God and God told Solomon: "Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour."

Every one of us here can well emulate the example of Solomon and determine that above all things we shall seek an understanding heart and thereby dedicate our lives to the pursuit of true ideas. After tonight all of you will not be going along the same route. Some will be going into business, some will be taking up the beautiful work of making a home, and some may perhaps continue a while longer in the role of student; and there, of course, may be at least one of you whose objective is the Olympic Team! But no matter in what direction your pathway may lie, there is one need which is common to every one of you, and it is a clear realiation that there is no problem which does not have a correct answer, no difficult position in which you may find yourself from which there is not a way out. But you may ask how to find the way out; and this is the secret: always remember that you must be ever conscious of the presence of Mind, of the guiding power of divine intelligence.

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From a letter dated 1898