Fear originates in the contention that evil, matter, and its so-called laws are real, powerful, and irresistible; that they are self-acting, self-existent, and entirely independent of God, good—out of His jurisdiction.

Christian Science bases its reasoning on the foundation on which Christ Jesus built, the all-power and all-presence of God, good. If God, good, is the only power, evil has no power, no ability to resist His divine will or set it aside.

The manifestation of fear has been analyzed by many clear-thinking persons in all walks of life. Recently, some advanced and well-known medical doctors have proved by research and observation that certain diseases of the body have resulted from fear and other human emotions. Of course, these doctors have advised against fear; but such advice is of little use unless the method which Christ Jesus employed in warring against this enemy is understood.

Spiritual experience shows that fear is overcome by an understanding of God and His all-power. It was this understanding which made Jesus the most fearless of all men. It is evident that he expected us to participate in the freedom from fear which he experienced, for he said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

An American soldier in France during the first World War had a remarkable experience of the overcoming of fear and the demonstration of God's omnipotence. The proof of the statement, "He shall give his angels charge over thee," was his in the following incident. Because of a premonition of impending danger, he sat down under a tree to read the Lesson in the Christian Science Quarterly, after which he felt ready to meet the day's tasks. Later that night, when a shell destroyed the dugout where he was on duty, he was uninjured and able to find his way out into the night. All that night he was comforted and guided from spot to spot by the "still small voice" of Truth. He was only dimly aware of the chaos about him, for his consciousness was filled with the heavenly message, "Lo, I am with you alway;" and then these explanatory words came: "Not only always, but in all ways." Later he discovered on page 317 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" the words of our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, "'Lo, I am with you alway,'—that is, not only in all time, but in all ways and conditions."

Christian Science makes it quite clear that the words and healing works of Jesus were the outcome of his spiritual perception of God and His creation. It is clear that the fears of mankind are the result of ignorance of God, good, and because of this ignorance mankind believes that evil has intelligence or being; so it naturally follows that fear and ignorance of the nature of God are connected. Jesus was free from fear because of his understanding of God, which in turn protected him from a belief in the power of evil. All who appealed to him, confident that he could help them, were helped and healed of doubt, distrust, anxiety, suspicion, misgivings, despair, consternation; and in their place, hope, trust, confidence, faith, security, enthusiasm, cheer, were established and made manifest.

Mrs. Eddy has explained to us the necessity of resisting fear. She writes in Science and Health (p. 380): "The physical effects of fear illustrate its illusion. Gazing at a chained lion, crouched for a spring, should not terrify a man." When we realize that evil is just as harmless and powerless as a chained lion, we cease to fear it.

When Moses was fearful and in doubt as to his ability to be obedient to God's demand to deliver his people "out of the land of Egypt," he "said unto the Lord, ... Thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me." The encouraging reply was, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest," which indicated the needlessness of fear and how it was to be overcome; for whatever is not of God should be put down to its proper classification. The practical nature of these statements is being demonstrated daily by watchful Christian Scientists, who are learning to guard their thought from that which diverges from divine Mind.

Such procedure has freed and is freeing many from fear and its unwholesome results. Christian Science teaches that an effectual denial of fear can be made only on the basis of the allness of God, good, and the consequent unreality of anything and everything unlike Him. When one considers all thought from the standpoint of divine Mind, one is enabled to resist and deny fear—see it as error attempting to communicate itself. Thus utilizing the ever-present qualities of divine Mind—love, intelligence, confidence, and the like—to the exclusion of their opposites—despair, hopelessness, dread, and so on—one denies and blots out fear, and brings into experience the only true remedy, the consciousness that God's presence "shall go with thee."

To the degree that we accept this divine assurance and put it into practical effect, from the basis of Mind's allness, will the folly of fear be recognized and shown forth in human experience, not only always, "but in all ways."