The story is told that long ago, in a far-away country, an emperor called together the wise men of his kingdom and assigned to them the task of formulating an axiom that would fit all conditions, at all times, in every place. These philosophers took up their task, and after much research and work the axioms were submitted. But the one accepted by the emperor was offered by his daughter: "This, too, will pass."'

This axiom, viewed in the light of Christian Science, and applied to all things material, contains more truth than those philosophers probably dreamed of. For Science teaches that God made all, as the Scriptures declare, and that His creation is changeless and eternal. It is metaphysical logic that whatever appears to pass away never had real existence. Its seeming existence is but the false claim of the carnal mind that life, substance, and intelligence, mutable and mortal, exist in matter.

The Master said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." The "words" are Truth's declaration of the continuity of good. Life is immortal, Mind is changeless, substance is enduring Love. Mary Baker Eddy has positively stated in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 3.1.5): "Reality is spiritual, harmonious, immutable, immortal, divine, eternal. Nothing unspiritual can be real, harmonious, or eternal. Sin sickness, and mortality are the suppositional antipodes of Spirit, and must be contradictions of reality."

It is demonstrable that changeless enduring, infinite Mind, the creator and ruler of the universe, the great First Cause, produces an effect like itself. As this truth dawns in consciousness, the belief that intelligence and life are in matter, and therefore subject to change and dissolution, is forced to disappear.

Doubt, confusion, fear, hatred, and war are not functions of divine Mind. Their claim to existence is readily recognizable as a false belief of a so-called material intelligence. This suppositional error opposes the validity of divine intelligence. Can such an illusion have real entity? It cannot; and the belief in its reality, too must pass. We learn in Christian Science that fear engenders hatred, greed, and war, and is usually the underlying cause of sickness, sorrow, and suffering. Christian Science further explains how all phases of fear are to be overcome and destroyed.

Much of heaven would be experienced now if fear were banished. No one wants to be afraid; no one need be afraid. The glorious truth is that one will cease being afraid as he comes to know God and relies upon Mind's infinite intelligence, which recognizes man as safe and secure. Illusion cannot alarm when reality is understood. In proportion as the recognition and acknowledgment of God's power and presence occupy thought, the illusive sense of hatred, evil, and fear gives way to confidence and trust in good. Fear can never seem real if the door to consciousness is never opened to it, for it is but the contradiction of reality.

Truth known dispels fear. This is accurately and logically conclusive. The need, then, is to know the truth. Centuries ago Jesus gave to mankind this wonderful remedy for all its ills: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Free from what? Free from all the ills of carnal thinking, not from some of them; not from sin alone, but from sickness, ignorance, sin, and fear. Understanding God, then, is the remedy and the only one whereby war with its grief, loss, and destruction will be annihilated for all time, and mankind will be free permanently to enjoy the heritage of freedom. Love is the Truth which makes men free. Love knows no fear. Where Love is, fear is not. Neither bondage nor burdens enter therein, for Love's command to fear is, You too will pass.

The cessation of fear should mark the end of hatred. When fear and hatred are eliminated from consciousness, war will be an impossibility. When one loves God more, he will hate men less. He will stop saying hateful things, doing hateful things, because he has learned a better way. Unceasing desire for good is "the effectual fervent prayer" which the Apostle James declares "availeth much." Such prayer shows us how to love in the Christlike way. Thus all earth's ills will pass, for the carnal mind is seen as nonexistent.

Paul made this very clear in his letter to the Romans, where he wrote, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." God reigns. He is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent. Carnal thinking has nothing within itself to sustain or perpetuate its claims, for it is but the suppositional anti-pode of God, good, and it, "too, will pass." The things of God unfold in proportion as Truth and Love are understood; and today, as never before, God is being recognized by those in the air, on the sea, and in the jungles. When no earthly help is nigh, then thought rises to God in prayer, and prayer is answered.

One of the chaplains in the United States Army Air Force reports that "one of our Flying Fortresses was forced down at sea on its way back to Australia.... Sergeant H—was tail gunner in the plane. Small, quiet, and conscientious, he had been a frequent visitor to our chapel services. At the first opportunity I questioned him about his part in the adventure.

"'It's the gospel truth," he said. 'I'd only been praying a few minutes when I felt like God had heard me and was taking a hand to help us out. From then on, no matter how bad things got, I knew we would be O.K.... Our rescuers were Australian aborigines.... They told us that, the day before, they had been homeward bound with their catch, when a strange urge came over them. Something impelled them to change their course, and steer for this uninhabited and worthless bit of coral.' "

Yes, prayer does work. God speaks to His child and His voice is heard. Mrs. Eddy has forcefully expressed this in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 277): "Truth is speaking louder, clearer, and more imperatively than ever. Error is walking to and fro in the earth, trying to be heard above Truth, but its voice dies out in the distance. Whosoever proclaims Truth loudest, becomes the mark for error's shafts. The archers aim at Truth's mouthpiece; but a heart loyal to God is patient and strong. Justice waits, and is used to waiting; and right wins the everlasting victory."

We can hasten the day when all claims of materiality are silenced as we pray, watch, and work to enlarge the vision of God, good. Then the petty bickerings, the selfish interests, the disregard for the rights of others, the prejudices, the hatred and fear will yield to righteous thinking and the glorious promise will be fulfilled that "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

Let us become so aware of the divine realities that past mistakes, failures, and fear—all distressing, illusive pictures—also shall pass from consciousness. In remembering falsities, are we not letting evil repeat itself? In remembering continued good, we forget dreams. Let us go forward to better things —the things of Spirit, the realities of being. Then evil, whatever its name or nature, will be seen never to have had real existence.

Our Leader most wisely gives this counsel in that marvelous sermon "Christian Healing" (p. 10):"Let us remember that God—good —is omnipotent; therefore evil is impotent. There is but one side to good,—it has no evil side; there is but one side to reality, and that is the good side. God is All and in all: that finishes the question of a good and a bad side to existence. Truth is the real; error is the unreal. You will gather the importance of this saying, when sorrow seems to come, if you will look on the bright side; for sorrow endureth but for the night, and joy conieth with the light. Then will your sorrow be a dream, and your waking the reality, even the triumph of Soul over sense." Ultimately it will be acknowledged of all materiality that it has passed, and the supremacy of God will be understood and demonstrated.