Article April 28, 1945 Issue

"One real attraction"

ALFRED HULL STEVENS, JR.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, tells us in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 102): "There is but one real attraction, that of Spirit. The pointing of the needle to the pole symbolizes this all-embracing power or the attraction of God, divine Mind."

The magnetic compass, an old and valued instrument of navigation, is probably in broader use today than ever before in its history. Although more accurate compasses, using other principles, have been developed for fine navigation, the magnetic type is still the one to be found on most privately owned boats and on smaller aircraft, including some military models. It is well known that this instrument points to magnetic north instead of true north. This is not a critical condition, since the variation is the same in all compasses and can be allowed for in calculating a course.

More interesting, however, are the errors peculiar to each installation, resulting from the local pull of iron and steel which can divert the needle even from magnetic north. To the student of Christian Science these errors are especially significant. Rarely does such an instrument find itself free to respond without hindrance to the attraction of the magnetic pole. Rather, it performs its duties in spite of various distractions: machinery in ships, frames and engines in airplanes—examples familiar to all who sail or fly. Indeed, many compasses are equipped with devices for adjustment, so that errors can be compensated or counteracted in some degree. The results, however, are seldom perfect. Usually the errors that finally remain are posted on a card near the compass for everyone to see.

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