Article April 22, 1950 Issue

"THE SUBSTANCE OF AN IDEA"

JUSTICE M. MATHEWS, JR.

A Well-Known and arresting statement found in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, is this (p. 257): "Mind creates His own likeness in ideas, and the substance of an idea is very far from being the supposed substance of non-intelligent matter." From this it is apparent that the first requirement for an understanding of the nature of reality, of the true universe, is a correct concept of substance and idea.

What is "the substance of an idea"? At once it is evident that an idea is wholly nonmaterial. If it is a true idea, rather than an offshoot of so-called mortal mind and therefore illusive, it emanates from the one infinite, self-existent Mind, the only source of ideas. A true idea, furthermore, is intelligent. And because of its truth, it is eternal. It is completely indestructible. It is good, beautiful, and individual; it is complete, harmless, and strong.

These qualities of true ideas—spirituality, intelligence, eternality, indestructibility, goodness, beauty, individuality, completeness, harmlessness, and strength—are indicative of their nature and bring to the vision of the one seeking Truth grand glimpses of the universe of Spirit.

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