A Christian Science program was...

A Christian Science program was conducted from Station WEAF, New York City, Sunday afternoon, January 4, at 1.15 by Mr. Frank Sargent Bartlett of New York City. This program was given under the auspices of the Committee on Publication for the State of New York and had the approval of The Christian Science Board of Directors. The soloist, Mrs. Helen Young, was assisted by a staff organist.

The program opened with the solo, "The Lord Is My Light," by Frances Allitsen. Then Mr. Bartlett read an address substantially as follows:

The search for good is, and always has been, universal. Everyone is seeking what he believes to be good. He who seeks place, position, power, fame, and fortune, does so because of his belief that they represent or will obtain for him that which he regards as good. Almost everyone is seeking good not only for himself but also for others—for family, friends, group, class, or organization; and this, in a measure, holds true alike for laborer and capitalist, religionist, business man, charity worker, statesman, and everyone else. Each is seeking what he regards as good for himself and for a larger or smaller group of his associates or beneficiaries, in the way that, to him, seems best.

Because efforts to find good all too frequently fail, or result in harm or bring suffering to others, it is logical to conclude that either the concept of good involved is not true or the method used to obtain it is faulty. Spiritual good is absolute and supreme, and its gain by some does not mean loss to others. Divine Principle, when correctly understood and properly applied, brings good to every possible phase of human experience in a practical, effective, and helpful way.

Some approximation to this ideal good is what everyone has always sought and is seeking today. Look within yourself and see! Isn't it true of you right now? Yes, this ideal good, though thought by some to be unattainable in this earthly sphere of experience, most certainly does exist, and is available here and now. It always has existed, but men's recognition of it has been a gradual one, has been accomplished progressively over a very long period of time, and their utilization of good has not kept pace with seeming advancement along material lines.

The search for this supreme good throughout the ages is shown in Bible history as the search for God, and there ensues from it the progressive revelation of His nature and of His power and ability to bring good into human affairs, when His aid is understandingly sought. God, good, and His reflection, or manifestation, have the relationship of cause and effect. The Bible presents the history of mankind's progressive discovery of God's nature, and records the efforts of those who sought to apply for themselves and for others what had been learned of God's availability to meet human needs. Each successful effort to understand and apply this knowledge of God has, in its measure, advanced the understanding of this subject for the benefit of all mankind.

Through his own search for this supreme good, Moses, the great Hebrew prophet, helped mankind in its search by using his understanding of God's law to show men what to avoid. The Ten Commandments serve as a signboard for the wayfarer, which says, in effect. "If you would find really satisfying good . do not follow the wrong path." How loving is the law of God, applicable to all alike!

Micah, another prophet who helped mankind in its progressive understanding of God said, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Here it is indicated that injustice, cruelty, and pride must be ruled out if we would find good.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the Christ, which was to lead men to the full understanding of God. In his Sermon on the Mount, to be found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7, the Master, Christ Jesus, lists the qualities which lead to blessedness. Among those who manifest these qualities are "the poor in spirit," "they that mourn," "the meek," "they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness," "the merciful," "the pure in heart," "the peacemakers," the "persecuted for righteousness' sake." When we seek to establish the reign of these qualities within our thinking, together with others which express God, and exclude that which is unlike Him, we shall find, in ever-increasing measure, the kingdom of God within us, where Jesus said we should find it. He promised that those who earnestly seek it will have added unto them all needful things. These are his words: "Therefore take no thought, saying. What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

As in Bible times, so today, this good may be found through the right understanding of God; through obedience to His law; through reflecting, as far as we see it, the divine nature; through living the life that progressively expresses God, supreme good.

No matter what of good may seem to be lacking in your individual case, your recognition and experience of good will be greatly hastened if you will study those two great pronouncements, the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, and accept and apply the truths they present in your innermost thinking, with all the care and exactness that you would use in applying rules for the solution of a mathematical problem. However, when weighing that which you are seeking, to determine whether or not it is really good, remember, that from the human point of view, what pleases does not always truly bless, and what truly blesses does not always please at first.

Yes, this supreme good may be attained by us, here and now, through seeking to establish God's kingdom within our own thinking. Thus shall we find in ever-increasing measure our true selfhood, the man God created in His own image and likeness, to whom He gave dominion over all the earth. And if this is what God has made, why not claim it? We can rise no higher than our concept of God, and of man, His image and likeness. And let us include others, and say with John, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." In so doing, in raising our concept of all true selfhood, we shall help others as well as ourselves. We shall be acknowledging the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and we shall thus help the world. Jesus helped the world by what he knew, by what he said, by the life he lived. He sought first the kingdom of God; he proved the healing power of Truth and Love by his works, and said that his followers should do such works, and greater, as they believed on him.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 496 ): "Ask yourself: Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good? Am I demonstrating the healing power of Truth and Love? If so, then the way will grow brighter 'unto the perfect day.' Your fruits will prove what the understanding of God brings to man."

Instead of going gladly along the way God leads, some Christians go reluctantly. Instead of doing God's will and work with joy, they do it under a sense of duty, if they do it at all.... Religion to them is a compulsion, when it ought to be a privilege.—H. C. Henderson.