On the first page of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says, "Humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition of Deity;" and on page 356 she emphasizes its importance, saying, "The second stage of mental development is humility." The need, then, of gaining true humility is apparent, and the student who sees this and proceeds to cultivate this quality from his earliest study of Christian Science, will have much to be thankful for as he advances. Thereby will be avoided much retracing of steps in his natural progress along the highway of right endeavor. They who may have neglected to acquire a true sense of humility, until weary experience forces it upon their attention, are alert to advise their children and friends of the desirability of the early cultivation of this necessary virtue.

Jesus' illuminating parable, to be found in the eighteenth chapter of Luke's Gospel, was addressed directly "unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." He told them of two widely different individuals who went into the temple to pray. One of them, a Pharisee, extolled himself before God, thanking Him that he was not as other men, asserting his financial and ceremonial loyalty to the religious authorities of his day. The publican, without so much as lifting his eyes heavenward, implored God's mercy upon what he evidently considered his own unworthiness. Jesus then declared that the attitude of this man was justified rather than that of the Pharisee.

Another incident in the life of our Master, as recorded by Matthew, which exemplified true humility and earned his approval, occurred during his pilgrimage along the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite besought him to heal her lunatic daughter. Perhaps it was to test her faith and humility that he answered by telling her that he had been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. When she continued to plead for help, he said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." That she could, without rancor, still continue to beseech his aid, satisfied him of her great faith and humility; and thereupon he answered her, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." And her daughter was released from her difficulty at once.

Humility is one of the many reflections of Love, and it is one of the most potent to bring harmony and strength where confusion and weakness seem to be. These observations are seldom disputed by those who desire help in Christian Science, but the time comes ultimately, in each one's experience, when progress requires that he cultivate these truths and make them his own. How is the true sense of humility to be acquired? If we examine a dictionary definition, we find that humility means "being humble in spirit; freedom from pride and arrogance." Among the synonyms for humility are lowliness and meekness. Pride and arrogance are human weaknesses, since they manifest a pseudo strength which must inevitably fail in any test of character. These must be eliminated, therefore, and replaced with permanent strength which reflects God, and which will withstand every seemingly destructive attack of mortal mind.

The strength of true humility, its commanding grandeur, is always best perceived in its very quietness, its freedom from disturbance. It is imperative that the sincerity of one's prayer for humility shall be verified and sustained by a genuine striving to walk and act humbly before God and men. Works, supporting the desire, are necessary to prove our understanding of Him who is Love. Purpose and intent to continue in a quiet, unselfed humility are requisite, and this in the face of those vexatious, irritating problems with which the world would seem to confront us. This was implied by the Apostle Paul in his injunction to cultivate that attitude of loving regard for others which "suffereth long, and is kind;" that sense of abiding justice which faces trouble squarely, and continues to love and bless even one's enemies.

Our revered Leader has reminded us that "one can never go up, until one has gone down in his own esteem" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 356, 357); adding that "humility is no busybody: it has no moments for trafficking in other people's business, no place for envy, no time for idle words, vain amusements, and all the et cetera of the ways and means of personal sense." There is a saying, "Be good and you will be lonesome;" and if we allowed only human tendencies to control our thinking, we should doubtless subscribe fully to such an assertion. But the fact is very frequently observed that a person who harbors thoughts of envy, who attempts to mind other people's business or indulges in idleness or vain amusements, thereby brings upon himself a feeling of dislike, and so exposes himself to that very lonesomeness which he had expected to avoid.

Again, there is a mistaken tendency to confuse humility with humiliation, and thus conclude that a lack of happiness is involved in humility. Nothing could be farther from the fact. Humility brings a peace and calm which generates a deep-rooted, permanent happiness. In the one who is truly humble, therefore, we may expect to find a spontaneity of speech and wholesome humor which imparts cheer and a lively hope to others who may be in need of encouragement. The positive delight of spiritual sense comes most readily into the experience of him who has first learned to discard the unreal pleasures of mortal sense; and the process whereby this is accomplished involves humility, self-knowledge, and love. Through such a life, the ever-present goodness of God shines forth to a world in need. In the words of one of our hymns:

Copyright, 1939, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.