"THE ALCHEMY OF SPIRIT"

Robert Ellis Key

Being is ageless and deathless. All is Spirit; there is no matter; therefore there can be no chemical processes or changes producing decay and dissolution.

True chemistry is not material, but spiritual. Mary Baker Eddy, referring to the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," writes on page 422 of this book, "If the reader of this book observes a great stir throughout his whole system, and certain moral and physical symptoms seem aggravated, these indications are favorable." And farther down the same page she continues: "These changes which go on in mortal mind serve to reconstruct the body. Thus Christian Science, by the alchemy of Spirit, destroys sin and death." Note here the fact that changes in thought go to heal and reconstruct the body, and not to destroy it.

In the laboratory of Christian Science we take the moral and spiritual ingredients, and adding intelligently one to another we are enabled to destroy inharmonious material or physical changes and thus reinstate the healthy and harmonious nature. The Apostle Peter describes the way to compound a moral medicine when he writes (II Pet. 1:5–7), "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

The only legitimate change that can be experienced by a seeker after Truth is a change from matter to Spirit, a transformation of thought brought about by "the alchemy of Spirit." This change is painless and need cause no chemicalization, for it is the unfoldment of the great fact that God is the only creator and man His beloved son. All things material and temporal are subject to destructive changes, but the eternal facts of creation are constant, constructive, invariably progressive.

In the material world afflictive changes are sometimes attributed to phases of the sun or the moon or the stars, or to climatic conditions. In the light of Christian Science this is absurd. There is no such thing as solar or lunar influence, nor do the stars have the power to direct or control or change character or career of man. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 102), "The planets have no more power over man than over his Maker, since God governs the universe." All law, all control, is vested in God, good, the changeless lawgiver.

In periods of seeming change we learn to be more alive to spiritual existence as expressed by the unchanging perfection of man in Spirit. As we learn more of man as the reflection of Spirit, moral and spiritual qualities become increasingly active in our experience and tend to destroy disease and reconstruct the body.

It is sometimes remarked that Christian Scientists look happy. This is natural. Their eyes should shine and their faces glow with animation, for they have learned something of life in Spirit—a life which is filled with new and inspiring ideas. A drab, dull, and uninteresting view is material, not spiritual. The man of Spirit's creating is always aware of loveliness, and he is alert, intelligent, and interested.

Broadly speaking, this new view is not the goal but the beginning of endeavor. There is constant progression for man. True humanhood is aware of the nature of God and man. Mortal man is not man in God's image and likeness. Once aware of the existence of true individuality, the human being can begin to claim a higher manhood or womanhood, thereby exchanging the false for the true.

"The alchemy of Spirit" should be diligently practiced by Christian Scientists. Love liberates; Truth integrates and stabilizes; Life renews and perpetuates. The moral and spiritual qualities emanating from Life, Truth, and Love are the potions essential for health. We find them in the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings. We learn to reflect them, to see them in ourselves and others, and thus we contribute to individual and collective salvation through "the alchemy of Spirit."

Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 268): "God's preparations for the sick are potions of His own qualities. His therapeutics are antidotes for the ailments of mortal mind and body." Let us partake only of these potions which can be classified as God's qualities. When we assimilate them, they work beneficial changes in mind and body. Thus we shall learn a little more each day concerning the alchemy of Spirit and be blessed and healed by the moral and spiritual changes which ensue.

Robert Ellis Key

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