What men say and do often acts as an example profoundly affecting the lives of others. Understanding something of the significance of this, we may well remember the words of Christ Jesus. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." How much of what we say and do in hourly contact with others, is serving by its courage, high purpose, and inspiration of joy to lift other men up into health and gladness, is bringing them strength and confidence to combat evil and maintain good?

The situations we confront and the problems that arise, give us many opportunities to let our example prove what Christian Science has wrought for us in meeting difficulties, persecution, and injustice without bitterness or self-pity; overcoming fear with quiet confidence.

Peter, in his first epistle, left his readers in no doubt as to what was expected of them as Christians, for he wrote: "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who when he was reviled, reviled not again."

The individual who does not allow hatred or indignation to enter his thought when wronged not only blesses himself but may also bring great blessing to his persecutor. He who with dignity and quietude refuses to enter into personal recriminations, preserves his own peace: and at the same time his example is a beacon light to other men. He who, while he refuses to cross swords, also maintains his own serenity, is indeed being lifted up. How often has silence together with steadfast denial of the lie of anger and hatred which are being manifested, brought healing and contrition, where otherwise the breach must have widened beyond repair.

In all forms of personal controversy it is the loving duty of those involved to ascertain whether the displeasure evoked would appear to have any just cause for which they may be individually responsible: whether directly or indirectly the least excuse for ill-feeling has been given. If so, these must be corrected, not necessarily audibly, but in one's own grasp of and fair appraisal of whatever the situation may be. It is for each one to see that no prejudice or personal sense of any kind is allowed to darken his thought and influence his judgment.

A great writer has declared that "against the superiority of others there is no remedy but love." The recognition of this should be a help to those who are hurt, baffled, and often incensed by injustice, by unkindness, by intellectual or what is sometimes manifested as an air of spiritual superiority. Actually there can be nothing superior to love. He who preserves his own sense of love in the face of every provocation will not be found battling for recognition, or seeking retaliation, but will maintain his peace and poise, whatever the provocation, even as did Jesus before Pilate and Herod. That the right may not be immediately vindicated and the error unmasked, is of no moment. On page 54 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Mary Baker Eddy writes of Jesus. "The world acknowledged not his righteousness, seeing it not; but earth received the harmony his glorified example introduced."

The world may be slow today to acknowledge that which Christian Science is accomplishing, but wherever Christian Scientists are letting their light shine forth in healing, in unselfishness, in the refusal to hate others, in remaining undisturbed where hatred is leveled at them, their example is bring felt. Truth is being established, and thereby others are also being helped who sometimes find the battle long and hard.

However threat the call, however insistent and ever present the need, to the Christian Scientist there has been shown how to be so lifted up that others may be drawn up likewise. For him it is to remember his Leader's words in Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 223). "May divine Love so permeate the affections of all those who have named the name of Christ in its fullest sense, that no counteracting influence can hinder their growth or taint their examples."

A young Christian Scientist, in the present war, found himself in a regiment where a great deal of drinking went on. Without comment he invariably ordered soft drinks for himself when the others were ordering alcohol. At first a few made contemptuous and even hostile remarks, to which he pleasantly but firmly replied that everyone was entitled to make his own choice in such matters. In a few days he noticed that one or two and then more and more of the young men followed his example, until it became the exception to do otherwise.

On page 110 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader writes, "What grander ambition is there than to maintain in yourselves what Jesus loved, and to know that your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind!"

The example that we have to lift up is not our own apart from the law of Principle which supports it, the power of Love which inspires it, the exactness of Truth which outlines it. As men turn unreservedly and continually to divine Mind for the example which they must show to the world, as they trust its wise and compassionate unfoldment, they will not only learn how great is its power in preserving and ennobling themselves, but that their earth also is being glorified, because they are drawing others unto them.

Evelyn F. Heywood