Article March 27, 1948 Issue

"WHAT IS THY NAME?"

WILLIS R. SMITH

To the inquiry, "What is your name?" one naturally responds with his or her family or married name. Even while answering, however, one may perceive that something more is needed for complete identification, and he may add, "I live in such and such a place," "I am a carpenter," or, "My father is John Adamson." Still, intuitively, he knows that he has not yet disclosed his character, which remains to he discerned mentally through closer acquaintance.

The insufficiency of such evidence of identity as is contained in human descriptions is incisively described By Mary Baker Eddy in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she states (p. 478): "Error says, 'I am man;' but this belief is mortal and far from actual. From beginning to end, whatever is mortal is composed of material human beliefs and of nothing else. That only is real which reflects God."

Man's true name or identity, then, is derived from Spirit, God, and is to be found not in a designation humanly given, but rather in those spiritual qualities which express God's nature. To gain a true concept of individuality it is essential to see beyond the mortal evidence to the immortal idea of man witnessing to divine Life, Truth, and Love and expressing his true identity as a child of God.

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