One of the most holy and inspiring fields of labor in the Christian Science movement is that of nursing. Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 367), "The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love." The Christian Science nurse, as well as the practitioner, is called upon to exercise "pitiful patience" with the fears of an invalid and to remove them with tender words and Christian encouragement and with the inward conviction that "all is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all" (ibid., p. 468).

A gardener who has had a lovely, tender plant placed in his care prepares the ground thoroughly, carefully digging it and casting out all stones and hard clods of earth to make it ready for the precious plant. How tenderly he then cares for it, nursing and nourishing it, watering it carefully and protecting it from accident until it is firmly rooted and sturdy enough through development and growth to withstand the elements!

As the gardener loves and tends his plant, so the wise and loving nurse plays her part in planting seeds of Truth in the consciousness of those placed under her care, those who have come under the mesmerism of some false belief that has hidden from them, for a time, the God-given dominion bestowed upon man, according to the first chapter of Genesis. In conversation with the one in need of healing, the nurse must gently and patiently help to remove fear, self-pity, ignorance, worry, and anxiety, and sow the seeds of hope, faith, confidence, and absolute reliance upon the Word of God as taught in Christian Science. In Christian Science healing these seeds are carefully nurtured by prayerful metaphysical work, both audible and silent, and the weeds of doubt, impatience, discouragement, and also the temptation to watch the body for symptoms, good or bad, are lovingly and persistently denied and cast out, until finally the glorious truth shines forth in the consciousness of the one who is being healed, and he feels and knows that "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Sometimes quickly, sometimes more slowly, the physical senses are forced to "give up their false testimony" (Science and Health, p. 192), until the healing work is completed.

Christian Science has placed a sacred responsibility upon those who are privileged to serve in the healing and nursing work. They are constantly on the field of battle, with the enemy pelting them from every side. Yet they must stand firm in faith, undisturbed by any false evidence of the senses. Day and night there may be hideous pictures tempting the nurse to admit, "Yes, it looks very bad," or suggesting that the claim of pain voiced by the patient is very real and something must be done to alleviate it. Yes, "something" must be done, and this "something" is the absolute acknowledgment of the allness and ever-presence and power of God, and of man in His image and likeness, as present also, because they are one and cannot be separated. Man is the reflection of God, and where God is His reflection is with Him, perfect and complete, else God would be incomplete—that is, without His image and likeness, His reflection. It takes moral courage to stand thus when much fear is expressed by those around, and the evidence seems all on the opposite side. But the nurse who is serving God and her fellow men according to Christian Science stands on the side of spiritual truth, and by so doing helps to release the patient from any false belief in his or her consciousness that might retard recovery. Man is never helpless, for God is "a very present help in trouble." Mrs. Eddy tells us in our textbook (pp. 476, 477) that "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man." And she adds, "In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." This is the only man there is to behold, and thus a Christian Science nurse is able to help those she has been called to serve.

A nurse must work loyally and lovingly with the practitioner on the case. Then there will be no cross-fire of criticism, impatience, or doubt to mar the perfect demonstration. Our consecrated practitioners must depend to a large extent upon the faithfulness and co-operation of the nurse to uphold the truth that is unfolding in the consciousness of the patient. Paul says, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." The seeds of Truth must be faithfully watered, but God alone does the healing work—and "giveth the increase."

A Christian Science nurse would be of little benefit to the sick and sorrowing who call on her were she to become anxious and fearful, or make a reality of what animal magnetism presents for acceptance. It is only by absolute reliance on Truth, by constant prayer, that we can reap the reward of obeying our Leader's admonition (Science and Health, p. 261), "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts." And so we help to bring these blessings into the experience of others who have turned to Christian Science for their healing.