One of our splendid young aviators, an earnest student of Christian Science, wrote to his mother, "If word comes to you that I am missing in action, don't accept it!" What a message of strength and courage is this for those whose dear ones are facing dangers in distant lands; yes, and for every Christian soldier at home or abroad confronted with error's devious and devastating arguments! Christian Science is teaching mankind not to accept as truth and reality the carnal mind's suggestions of discord and disaster. Starting from the premise that the great First Cause is Spirit, infinitely good and harmonious, the student naturally deduces the fact that all real effect must be spiritual, manifesting the rhythm and order of its creator, as "when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.'"

The proposition, therefore, that evil or discord in any guise can have existence, continuity, or lawful support in the divine economy is as untenable as would be the assertion that darkness has an abiding place in light. Thus with flawless logic does Mary Baker Eddy write in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 231): "God is not the author of mortal discords. Therefore we accept the conclusion that discords have only a fabulous existence, are mortal beliefs which divine Truth and Love destroy."

Is it not evident that Christ Jesus did not accept mortal mind's verdicts that a certain man was a hopeless cripple, or another had been born blind, or this woman was a hardened sinner, or that Lazarus was dead? When the Master spoke of an infirmity as produced by Satan, and therefore not traceable to the will of a good God, he showed the illegitimacy of all discord and inharmony. Just as a sympathetic and understanding schoolteacher will see the correct answer to a problem in spite of a pupil's manifold mistakes, is it not reasonable to assume that the great Teacher of Nazareth, with divine compassion, looked through the mist-distorted pictures of the carnal mind to the infinite harmonies of real being? In a memorable paragraph in Science and Health our inspirational Leader, Mrs. Eddy, elucidates this thought (ibid., pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick."

Since 1883 The Christian Science Journal has been publishing monthly, and since 1898 the Christian Science Sentinel has been printing weekly, literally thousands of testimonies of the healing of all manner of disease, sin, and discord through the ministry of Christian Science. As the thought of the student has been spiritualized through prayer, purification, and an earnest seeking of the light of Truth, he has been able to reject the execrable lies of material sense and gain that "correct view" of God, man, and the universe which has brought to this age the renaissance of Christian healing. As the Scientist has refused to accept evil and discord as real or God-created and has clung steadfastly to the harmonious facts of being, have these healings been accomplished. There is no mystery to Christian Science healing. It is simply the acknowledgment of Truth and the nonacceptance of error. It is the acceptance and enforcement of God's law of harmonious, diseaseless being.

Here a sorrowing mother or friend may say: But suppose you have to accept evil tidings! Suppose the report that a dear one is missing in action or has passed on, is proved true? Down the centuries comes this tender assurance of the Christ: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Can the Scientist, therefore, abandon for a moment his "correct view of man"? Can he accept as God's truth the suggestion that man, the expression of infinite Life, can be annihilated? Dare he accept the diabolical suggestion that God's image can be less than undying and indestructible? Righteous refusal to accept any of the carnal mind's misconceptions of being can only bring peace to erstwhile sorrowing hearts, and a blessing to the whole human family.

The Scripture tells us, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." Certainly from heaven, eternal harmony, never comes the message of man's annihilation, but assurance of his everlasting coexistence with immortal Love and Life. Accepting only this divine fiat, the Scientist cannot lapse into self-pitying gloom, no matter what pictures material sense may present.

Everyone knows how speedily a counterfeit coin is rejected the minute its spurious nature is detected. Should we not rejoice that Christian Science has so uncovered evil's defrauding suggestions that men, women, and children today can quickly and definitely reject and so nullify their subtle whisperings? Here is the infallible test: Does this thought come from heaven—from the harmonious Giver of all good? If discordant, no. Then it may be dismissed with a firm, "Get thee hence, Satan!" Then indeed do angels, holy, inspirational thoughts, minister unto us. Then do we learn to turn unreservedly to our infinitely good Father-Mother God and accept only the bounty of peace, health, and harmony which is the heritage of all His sons.

John Randall Dunn