Article January 11, 1941 Issue

"God's servants are minute men and women"

FLORENCE L. ANSTEY

Just before and during the American War of Independence certain armed citizens called minutemen pledged themselves to be always ready to serve their country, and to take the field if necessary at a minute's notice. Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, adopted this term when she wrote, in her book "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 158), "All God's servants are minute men and women;" and she says of herself, "As of old, I stand with sandals on and staff in hand, waiting for the watchword and the revelation of what, how, whither."

Vigilance and alertness to duty are recognized by earnest Christian Scientists as indispensable qualities of thought. The Bible records many instances of the exercise of such qualities and their inevitable effect in healing and redemption. In the early days of the Christian era, the apostles and disciples of our Master proved themselves true minutemen in the cause of Truth, and dark beliefs of mortal thought often yielded instantaneously when challenged by these soldiers of Christ.

That Peter and John were intelligently alert, and ready to discern and meet the human need, was proved when Peter healed the impotent man at the Beautiful gate of the temple. To those who stood by, a wonderful illustration was given of the joy-giving, health-producing power of the Christ-spirit in healing. A complete reversal of inertia took place, and, responding immediately to the clear spiritual insight of the apostle, the lame man woke from his long dream of inactivity. He glimpsed in a spontaneous rush of joy and wonder a little of "the glorious liberty of the children of God," and entered with the disciples into the temple, "walking, and leaping, and praising God."

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