"To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth," said Christ Jesus to Pontius Pilate. Steeped in materialism and no doubt puzzled at this sublime concept of life, the Roman governor countered, "What is truth?"

Thinkers before and since that momentous trial at Jerusalem have asked themselves the same age-old question, "What is truth?" In the physical or chemical laboratory, the history or English course, or the mathematics class, the student endeavors to establish the authenticity of that which is presented. Indeed, the daily round is a quest for truth.

In view of this incessant search for exactitude as to earthly things, it is not surprising that high school and college students seek certainty in spiritual things. A Sunday-school student thus put the matter specifically to her teacher: "How can I convince my associates who are atheistically inclined that the truth of being revealed in Christian Science is incontrovertible? They will not accept it if I tell them it is founded upon the Scriptures, because they view the Bible with amused skepticism."

Remembering Emerson's definition of education, that it "should be as broad as man. Whatever elements it finds in him, it should foster and demonstrate," the teacher replied with the question, "Are the rules of mathematics true merely because they are found in the textbook?"

"Oh, no," quickly replied the student, "they are true because they are founded upon the principle of mathematics."

"And you will further agree," continued the teacher, "that great mathematicians throughout the ages have apprehended these rules and through demonstration proved them."

"Yes," agreed the student. Then she meditatively observed, "Why, of course the truth of mathematical calculations is independent of the printed page."

"Certainly," responded the teacher, "mathematical truths are not true because they are found in the textbook; they are found in the textbook because they are true. Likewise, the great facts of life recorded in the Bible and Science and Health are true not because they are found therein. They are recorded in these two great charts of life because they are true."

"But how do we know they are true?" shot back the student.

"Their demonstrableness and their permanency establish their verity," replied the teacher. "Just as mathematical truth always has existed in the realm of mathematical law, in perfect agreement with and subject to this law, so spiritual truth has forever existed in the realm of infinite Principle or God, in perfect agreement with and subject to the law of Principle. Indeed, spiritual truth is the law of divine Principle. Just as mathematicians have discovered and demonstrated mathematical law, so spiritual seers have through inspiration apprehended spiritual law and through demonstration proved it."

With her keen spiritual discernment, Mary Baker Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," states (p. 112), "From the infinite One in Christian Science comes one Principle and its infinite idea, and with this infinitude come spiritual rules, laws, and their demonstration, which, like the great Giver, are 'the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.'" To those who continue the mathematical syllogism, it is clear that just as the solution of a problem removes the mathematical principle from the status of theory to the realm of fact, so demonstration transposes spiritual truth from the abstract to scientific certainty.

In the application of divine law to human problems, the realization of man's oneness with God operates as a vitalizing, healing force. If one discards as legends of a past age the countless Biblical demonstrations of this truth, well-authenticated stories of modern experiences furnish incontrovertible evidence. From today's battle areas come stories told by survivors; men who floated for days on a raft after their ship had been torpedoed attribute their rescue to prayer. A reporter lost in the jungles of New Guinea was sustained when he persistently reminded himself of the Biblical truth. "I shall not want."

Christ Jesus' declaration of his purpose and destiny also states the purpose and destiny of every individual. Centuries "before the Master's advent, the Psalmist recognized God as the great First Cause, and man as effect and therefore God's witness. Said he, "All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God." The demonstration of a satisfying and a satisfactory career must begin with the understanding of man's oneness with God, because true individuality is found only as God's reflection. This is the Science of being. Spiritual understanding forces the disappearance of false concepts in order that the Christ-consciousness may appear as one's own consciousness. Thus we realize the qualities which characterize our identity.

The spiritually unenlightened have no key to the perplexities of life. They have no chart by which to find their way in the darkness which frequently besets human experience. God's ever-present love, however, can reach everyone seeking for direction, and thus may dawn the light which will give meaning and purpose to their being.

Christian Science has revealed the unencumbered realm of Spirit. With the understanding of God's supremacy, seemingly absent faculties are restored and time is resolved into eternity. True individuality shines forth, not as a wanderer between two great unknowns, but as the God-ordained witness pursuing his purposeful, imperative, and undefeated career. Christ Jesus reckoned himself from this standpoint. Hear his words: "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." Through spiritual understanding the Master thus translated past, present, and future into the perfect round of reflection.

The realization and demonstration of man's dominion calls for industrious mental effort. The analysis of one's thoughts is a good start. Clearly, fear and spiritual ignorance lead to spiritual blindness, and, conversely, spiritual blindness induces fear and spiritual ignorance. Visibly, the origin of a thought discloses its destination, and, likewise, its destination unveils its origin. Mind has endowed everyone with the necessary energy, wisdom, and intelligence to detect and repudiate wrong thought, and to apprehend and accept the true. This inherent ability is not only the essence of true selfhood; it constitutes the authority and law under which the real man functions.

Thus man's capacity to understand what is true from the standpoint of Truth is not dependent upon human intellect; it is the intercommunication of Mind to Mind's idea. The utilization of this capacity to understand God is true prayer.

Christian Science applies divine law to human problems. Through spiritual enlightenment individual difficulties cease to be problems per se, but become opportunities with the realization of the spiritual idea of existence to establish in consciousness one's divine purpose and sublime destiny. Thus scientific Christianity answers the question, "What is truth?" by revealing divine reality.

The most masterly treatise on "Evidences of Christianity" is a truly sanctified man or woman.—Selected.