Article December 6, 1941 Issue

Sunday School Notes and Comments

I found that my class of older boys showed little interest in the Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quarterly entitled "Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced." One boy stayed away when this was the subject of the Lesson, although he was one of the most earnest pupils in the class.

I prayed to be shown how to present this Lesson in an interesting and helpful way so that its importance might be fully appreciated. While I was gathering up my copies of The Christian Science Monitor to take to church for distribution, my attention was attracted to an account of Commander Byrd's expedition to Little America. As I drove to church the thought of it unfolded.

The boys were all present that morning, and I began by speaking about this expedition, bringing out the great care and thought spent in preparation for this important exploring of new ground, and the expectation of accomplishment. The questions were asked: Suppose an inexperienced group wished to pursue the same course, of whom would inquiry be made? Would it not be of someone who had gone before? But if the one questioned replied by giving a glowing account of the beauty of the trip, pleasant places to stop enroute, where to go and what to take, but said nothing about where not to go and what not to take, made no mention of the dangers and pitfalls which would be encountered, would that one be a true friend and would such information be truly helpful? The answer was a vigorous, No! Then it was pointed out that we were all on the journey from sense to Soul, that our destination was "the land of Christian Science" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 226, 227), and that our wise Leader, the Discoverer of this land, had not made this mistake. Although Mrs. Eddy had shown us the beauty and grandeur of our destination and the loveliness en route, she had not neglected to point out the dangers along the way, but, like a true friend, had given explicit and full instructions about what they were and how to avoid them. Some of these pitfalls, such as smoking, social drinking, desire for mere popularity, and so on, were then discussed. It was pointed out that staying away from one's rightful place, such as Sunday school, was not handling error but allowing it to handle us.

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