To reason from the basis of the unity of God and man is to lay the foundation of an imperishable mental structure on which one may build for eternity. It brings to searchers for Truth a sure solution to their problems, an ever-expanding field for meditation; and when men begin to understand this unity, the way opens to establish peace between individuals, groups, and nations, until final victory over evil is won.

On page 9 of her Message to The Mother Church for 1902, Mary Baker Eddy writes, "The unity of God and man is not the dream of a heated brain; it is the spirit of the healing Christ, that dwelt forever in the bosom of the Father, and should abide forever in man."

Even from a human standpoint, unity is a formidable defense against one's foes. "Divide and conquer" is the slogan of those who would undermine and defeat the nations which are endeavoring progressively to march out of darkness into the light of a higher humanhood. Unify and conquer should be the watchword of Christ's followers.

The understanding Christian Science gives of the inseparability of God and man is bringing forcible changes to human thought today; old standpoints are disappearing, and theories based on the belief in a mind and selfhood separate from God no longer hold universal sway. On this basis of fundamental unity the unreality and powerlessness of every phase of evil can be demonstrated. "I and my Father are one," said Jesus, and he conquered all his foes, healed the sick, and raised the dead. Against the eternal fact of man's inseparability from God, the gates of hell and of death cannot prevail. On page 202 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes, "The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done."

Individually to understand and demonstrate this unity overcomes mountains of wrong and fear. When it is generally understood and demonstrated, the whole world will be delivered from the powers of darkness, for such conscious unity, now dawning on mankind, will bring untold power and strength to all. When allied nations stand together on the basis of a higher understanding of God and man, old sores will be healed, old wars forgotten. Men are beginning to grasp the fact that the enemies which would creep up in the darkness of unwatchfulness and overthrow the unwary are the aggressive mental suggestions of mortal mind, sowing seeds of dissension among communities and suspicious distrust among friends. These enemies would take on proportions and spread their virus wherever they can gain an entrance.

Christian Scientists are learning how to conquer these suggestions, for wherever they go and whatever their work may be, they have to challenge the impersonal errors of hate, jealousy, envy. They have to learn how to meet destructive criticism in themselves and others; they have to learn how to meet the evils which would crowd in to demoralize and weaken, separate and disrupt. Disagreements are settled by Christian Scientists, enmity and resentment healed, proportionately as the fundamental fact of man's unity with God and the brotherhood of man is remembered and applied. Should one group seem to oppose another, or one individual to take exception to what another is doing, students of Christian Science maintain the spiritual fact of their divine source, the one Mind, from which all God's ideas emanate. Turning away from all that would divide and obstruct, they realize that the qualities of God are forever expressed in man; then the evils which had seemed so real begin to disappear.

To unify is the secret of victory. Division means defeat. The recognition of basic, inseverable unity brings freedom, for the errors which would dupe and deceive even the sincerest workers in our Cause will let go their hold in the face of such understanding. In contemplating the rocklike foundation of all unity, the hates and personal dominations, the pride, self-seeking, and vain strivings of mortals for place and power, the aggressive suggestions which harass and disturb, fall away.

As with groups and individuals, so with nations and international relationships. The determination to divide and conquer has played a great part in the world's wars, and this determined propaganda must be stifled for lack of witness. Old wrongs have too often been cherished rather than denied and cast out; children in the schools have been taught to remember these wrongs, and the flame of hatred, thus fanned, is not easily extinguished. Unify and conquer is the lesson of today.

Union of interests and aims born of the recognition of the unity of God and man is being brought to light in Christian Science. To preserve and extend this union is the duty and privilege of every man, woman, and child, for unity is an indispensable factor in our present common battle with the evil forces which have been let loose on the world. If we would help in this struggle, we dare not linger in the vortex of belief in many minds. We must get back to the basis upon which man, God's image, eternally stands. Thus we shall find that the love of God has everlasting manifestation in man, and the strife and turmoil of the human mind will be forgotten.

Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 467): "It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established."

Copyright, 1942, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918. Published every Saturday.