Article July 5, 1941 Issue

"Cardinal points of Mind-healing"

GEORGE H. READ

That the truth is simple, many throughout the ages have admitted. Discerning students will agree that the farther they advance in the understanding of the teachings of Christian Science, the more clearly they see the simplicity of the primal facts of being, of the infinite, unfailing, all-encompassing, all-acting divine power.

The simple basic teaching of Christian Science is perhaps nowhere more plainly stated than on page 52 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where Mary Baker Eddy says: "The 'man of sorrows' best understood the nothingness of material life and intelligence and the mighty actuality of all-inclusive God, good. These were the two cardinal points of Mind-healing, or Christian Science, which armed him with Love." As all students of Christian Science know, these "cardinal points" are stated in various ways and many times throughout our Leader's writings. The use of these "two cardinal points" in the practice of Christian Science calls for the affirmation and realization of Truth, and the denial of any reality in error. In other words, the proper application of "the two cardinal points" means the insistent, persistent, emphatic affirmation of Truth and the vigorous denial of error in all that we think, say, and do. We can neglect neither the one nor the other of these fundamentals if we hope to have consistently successful results in our practice of Christian Science.

The importance which Mrs. Eddy has placed upon both the affirmation of Truth and the denial of error is evidenced in "the scientific statement of being," as presented on page 468 of Science and Health. A careful study of this statement shows that it deals as much with the denial of error as it does with the affirmation of Truth. It exemplifies in its contrasting statements regarding Truth and error the use of "the two cardinal points of Mind-healing." And in her wonderfully illuminating article in "Miscellaneous Writings" entitled "One Cause and Effect," on page 21, Mrs. Eddy quotes "the scientific statement of being," saying that it is her "first plank in the platform of Christian Science." The Church Manual (pp. 121, 127) specifies that this statement be used in all Sunday services in The Mother Church and branch churches, and in exercises for the Sunday school of The Mother Church and branch churches. What convincing evidence of our Leader's desire to keep her followers constantly reminded of the necessity for using "the two cardinal points of Mind-healing" in their application of Christian Science!

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Freedom to Do the Will of God