It is reported in the Acts of the Apostles that on one occasion, when they were teaching publicly, "believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." Peter's healing work during this time was of outstanding quality, and his reputation had inspired hope and faith. Thus as he, together with other apostles, went about Jerusalem, it is recorded that friends and relatives of sick folk brought the latter in their beds to the streets, that "at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."

Probably many of these people supposed it to be some supernatural power which Peter possessed as a corporeal mortal. They, as yet, had no very clear concept of what Christianity included, that is, salvation not only from sin, but equally from sickness; nor of what it excluded—the superstitions of pagan religions.

Certainly it was not the mere shadow caused by Peter's figure, any more than it was Peter, as a mortal, which held the healing ability. Was it not rather Peter's consciousness of true being which healed, wherever he was? It only remained for some meekly receptive or longing heart to come into contact with his spirituality, to become conscious, in some degree, of man's harmony as the perfect son of God.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, the same pure Science of Christianity which Jesus lived and taught to his disciples, writes on page 349 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," "A scientific state of health is a consciousness of health, holiness, immortality—a consciousness gained through Christ, Truth; while disease is a mental state or error that Truth destroys." These sentences reveal what must have been the basis of Peter's thinking on the subject, and while spiritual understanding came to him through his discipleship with Jesus of Nazareth, this understanding is equally available to us through the revelation of Christian Science, and is the same spiritually mental healing power.

It was not long after Jesus' ascension when Peter's "shadow" was sought by the sick and sinful. For forty days after the Master's resurrection, he had remained among his students preparing them to carry on his great work in the interests of humanity. It is noteworthy that the apostles were often "with one accord in one place." They had witnessed Jesus' final demonstration in the ascension on Olivet, which, while it removed their beloved friend from material sight, revealed most fully the truth that he had taught them. This experience brought them an accord which was a source of strength, for thus came, later on, the day of Pentecost, when again "the multitude" was enabled to hear and understand the Word of God. And thus Peter, with John, at a height of spiritual demonstration, healed the man lame from birth, who leaped to his feet, an example of the power of Truth over disease. Thus, as the apostles walked through Jerusalem, their thought, centering in God, blessed and healed the people as they passed.

The sincere student of Christian Science may read this account of Peter's good works with wistfulness, and long for the same healing activity which operated through his deeprooted spiritual right-mindedness. But the right thinker heals today as when the apostles practiced, for the healing truth bestows now as then the consciousness of man's Christly nature, forever reflecting Spirit, and thus permeated with spiritual man's native condition of purity and health.

In this age, however, and in a world so much larger and more complicated, we are not fully aware of the healing and regenerating that is going on all about us through the work of Christian Science. Outward methods are necessarily different, to accord with conditions. Nevertheless, the same unselfish affection and spiritual power over disease and error which Peter expressed, are present today through God's omnipresence, permeating the mental atmosphere of the right thinker.

"Pure Mind gives out an atmosphere that heals and saves. Words are not always the auxiliaries of Truth." So Mrs. Eddy reminds us on page 260 of "Miscellaneous Writings." Each, then, may claim, understand, and practice his oneness with "pure Mind," thus feeling the assurance that the good he would do to all within the range of his thinking, he is doing in his daily round. This conscious at-one-ment with Mind, in whatever degree practiced, represents a healthful, helpful influence in whole communities and nations. The individual work to spiritualize his consciousness which a Christian Scientist does for himself is only a part of what has occurred when a treatment has been given. The benefit of true witnessing may appear as the lessening of the fear of contagion in a neighborhood; as an overturning of a wrong condition in a still wider sphere; or as a general adjustment of circumstances and their improvement in some environment.

As a small instance: on a Friday afternoon a little boy brought home to his mother a note stating that parents might return their children to school on Monday at their own risk, as a case of contagious disease had broken out. Over the week end, his parents struggled with fear, and when Sunday came, had decided not to let him return next day. During the church service, however, the introductory words to the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly—"uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses, and divinely authorized"—healed this sense of fear. It was seen that not only was this true of the lesson read from the desk, but also of man in God's likeness. The little boy returned to school in the morning, and nothing more was thought of the note until a few weeks later, when it was learned that only the one case had appeared, and it had been "light" in nature.

Thus, as we go about our daily work, whether in humble task or directing the affairs of greater enterprises, the influence of our true thinking is doing its work in healing, for Truth may always be trusted to propagate and bear fruit. The healing influence emanates, wherever realized, from the divine Principle, which gives life and activity to its ideas. Thus true thinking denies the beliefs of life in matter expressed by sin, disease, and death, deprives these of their claims to activity, and so destroys them. This glorious fact, that every right thought is active and divinely governed, directed, and protected, refutes any temptation to feel that one thought in the universal concord of being is too small to be worth attuning to the song of angels. Concord with Truth in individual thinking brings it into accord with all right thinking, and is the same source of strength to Christian Scientists today that it was to the disciples on the day of Pentecost.

We know that Jesus healed many whom he never saw—healings of which no records were obtained—for multitudes often thronged him, and he "healed them all." Through him new, strange, and beautiful issues of increased health, prosperity, and unselfish joy touched their longing hearts.

"The spiritual power of a scientific, right thought, without a direct effort, an audible or even a mental argument, has oftentimes healed inveterate diseases," writes Mrs. Eddy on page 9 of "Rudimental Divine Science." All right thinking, reflecting Truth, becomes as "the shadow of a great rock in a weary land," and likewise as a light which dispels darkness, in proportion as each dwells in the Christ-consciousness.

By our very certainty of the kingdom of heaven within, and the joyful expression of it, we bless the multitudes who pass by, seeking, although they may not know or name it, that of which we stand possessed. Many have turned to Christian Science for help because they have known a student who spoke an encouraging word at the right minute, or have witnessed another's life regenerated by this glorious power. Is not this that same "shadow of Peter" which is expressed in the words of a hymn?