Article April 10, 1937 Issue

Progression

KELLOGG PATTON

Christian Science offers a completely satisfying answer to the inherent human desire for progression. Two specific requirements for progress are: first, a goal which, when attained, will be realization of a satisfyingly higher or better state; and, secondly, an intelligent approach to such a goal. The goal in Christian Science is the spiritual understanding of God, man, and the universe. The perfect exemplifier of this understanding was Christ Jesus. Mary Baker Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and her other writings, has clearly interpreted the perfect goal which Christ Jesus had continually before his thought, his method of prayer, and the human footsteps he took in approaching the goal.

In a particularly illuminating passage on page 166 of "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy shows Christ Jesus' approach to the complete understanding of God and man: "This spiritual idea, or Christ, entered into the minutiæ of the life of the personal Jesus. It made him an honest man, a good carpenter, and a good man, before it could make him the glorified." In these two sentences Mrs. Eddy has shown the means of his approach to the realization of "the glorified," the Christ. So the work of the student of Christian Science in his approach to the goal of perfection is to allow the spiritual idea, or Christ, to enter into the minutiæ of his life as Jesus did.

A student of Christian Science put this idea into operation in his work in a business institution in which he was employed. He began his day by knowing the truth about man, thus seeing both employer and employee as in reality the reflection of God, Mind, not as two separate minds. He based this understanding on Mrs. Eddy's statement on page 465 of Science and Health: "Principle and its idea is one, and this one is God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Being, and His reflection is man and the universe." He then endeavored to reflect actively in his daily work attributes of God, such as honesty, graciousness, kindness, patience, persistence, thoroughness, accuracy. One day he awoke to the fact that he could do a much better day's work than he had been doing, and, as a result, a new mastery of his work was gained. Shortly thereafter he was made head of the department in which he was working, with prospects of further advancement. Soon the way opened for other and larger work in another field.

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