In the symbolism of the human mind the star has held a first place as heralding the birth of those destined to play a great part in human history. Most noteworthy and permanent in the thoughts and hearts of men has been the star of Bethlehem, by which the "wise men" were guided to the birthplace of Jesus. We are told that everywhere throughout the East at that time men were looking for "the advent of a great King who was to rise from among the Jews." This expectancy was probably fostered by the Jews themselves, dispersed among the nations and telling of their hope of the promised Redeemer. These "wise men" who studied the heavens were less inclined to idolatry than other peoples, many of them worshiping light as the clearest symbol of God, so they were more ready to see and follow the star.

In Revelation we read: "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Jesus thus represented the fulfillment of all the hopes of Israel, the promised Messiah, through whom they were to be redeemed from evil, but he was "despised and rejected of men." "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." The eyes of the many were closed, and they saw only the man Jesus, who troubled their material senses, and whom they crucified. They failed to see the star of spiritual being, the Christ or Messiah, which Jesus represented, and which enabled him to arise from the grave of their crucifixion.

On page 320 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes: "The star of Bethlehem is the star of Boston, high in the zenith of Truth's domain, that looketh down on the long night of human beliefs, to pierce the darkness and melt into dawn." The "star of Boston" is not a star of material sense heralding a personal birth, but it is the morning star of Christian Science revealing the truth of being, the reality of God and man held as one in spiritual harmony, uninterrupted since "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy."

The way of the guiding star is, then, the way to joy and freedom, the way of celestial being, of power and dominion. On page 95 of our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy asks, "Is the wise man of to-day believed, when he beholds the light which heralds Christ's eternal dawn and describes its effulgence?"

To-day the eyes of many are still closed and they turn away from this light, thinking of it as something supernatural or ephemeral that fades out before what they call practical or concrete situations. This is of course the exact reverse of what is true. What we call the concrete situations of material devising fade away before the light of divine intelligence and Truth. Material beliefs are ephemeral; spiritual facts are concrete, changeless, and with power. This power is vested in divine Mind, or God. It is ever operative. It is pre-eminently practical, natural, and devoid of mystery. It is the power of intelligence over ignorance, of truth over error, and is available to dissolve any belief of the carnal mind, whether it seems to have taken concrete form in trivial inharmonies or searing tragedy.

A very simple example may serve to prove the availability of spiritual law, the law of divine Love, to calm and heal the troubled heart. An earnest student of Christian Science found himself a selectee in a basic training camp where the rigorous training and noisy distractions allowed no time for quiet thought and study. The conditions seemed to him beyond endurance. One night, when the need was imperative, he found a vacant room where he took refuge with heartfelt gratitude for an opportunity to be alone. In just a few moments a sergeant came in with a harmonica on which he began loudly and painstakingly to practice all the popular tunes of the camp. Our friend was enraged and filled with resentment. However, he quickly reversed such thinking and knew that nothing could interrupt the presence of Love or void its blessing for both himself and his sergeant.

Almost at once the discordant playing ceased and instead the soldier heard Mrs. Eddy's beloved hymn, "Shepherd, show me how to go," coming clearly and softly from the harmonica. Upon his request the sergeant played one by one all of our Leader's hymns. The result of this hour was friendship between these two men and the return of the sergeant to the teaching of the Christian Science Sunday School, which he had entirely abandoned. He said he did not know why he suddenly felt impelled to play that hymn. A simple illustration, it is true, but a definite proof of an ever-present law whose omnipotence waits to deliver from all evil. There is no power to annul that law, to make it unavailable or unavailing.

No night is dark or long enough to put out the morning star of Truth, or forever hide its light. Eternally it shines in infinite effulgence heralding the full day of spiritual apprehension. Each may see and follow the star in his own path of radiant being, seeing the dreams of sense dissolve before its light of intelligence and power.

Margaret Morrison