Article September 12, 1942 Issue

We Have Enlisted

PEARL G. ANDREWS

From the heart of every earnest follower of Christ today comes the compelling and impelling affirmation, We have enlisted. Whether that enlistment may call us to the front of the present world-wide battle, whether we remain quietly by our peaceful firesides, whether we may serve in the air, on land or sea, or beneath the sea, or whether we may be humble workers in some less noticeable department of service, the fact remains that, consciously or unconsciously, we have enlisted.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 450) Mary Baker Eddy, the beloved Leader of the Christian Science movement, has declared, "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good." How modest was her claim of englistment! Well she knew the seeming scope and strength of the so-called evil forces with which her students would wrestle. In no way, however, did she limit the possibilities of a complete victory over evil beliefs, for while using the term "lessen evil" she distinctly shows us in all her writings that in proportion to our realization of Truth shall we be enabled completely to overcome evil. In fact, in this passage we are told exactly how all forms and phases of evil shall be overcome—"by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good." 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.

The student of Christian Science at times may be confronted with a dissatisfied feeling that he is doing little. He becomes impatient with his apparently slow progress and discouraged with his lack of accomplishment. He may find himself inwardly and sometimes outwardly declaring, "The pioneer workers did marvelous things; why am I not doing them?" This attitude of disparaging self, frequently unmerited, may still be a helpful one if it calls forth more consecration and humble, diligent effort; but if impelled by a desire merely for spectacular demonstrations it becomes a stumbling block to one's progress.

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