A SEASON of new birth in our concept of government can be a consecrated experience, with each day filled with inspiring views of the spiritual facts about true government.

What do we know about government? We know that God, who created the universe, governs it, and therefore that the only government is His—beneficent, just, and impartial. God's government is the wise, righteous, and loving control of all His children and of their relationship to each other. As human governments come and go, there is comfort to be found in the Scriptural assurance (I Cor. 12:5), "There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord."

Are we scientific in our thoughts and conversations with respect to government? Do we maintain the spiritual fact of God's supremacy even when the senses present their reports of evil's tyranny? We would not be tempted to rehearse heatedly the symptoms of a disease. Is it not just as inconsistent to rehearse heatedly the symptoms of national or international disorder?

We need to listen to God's angel messages, which correct evil reports and reveal to us a view of a God-governed universe, which we can enjoy and about which we can feel at peace. Affirming understandingly the spiritual fact of government will bring about harmony in human government as surely as standing firmly for the spiritual fact of health will result in human evidence of health. We do not ignore the accuser's lies about government or about health. We deny and correct them with the truth of God's perfect control, which annihilates these lies and their every effect.

What do we know scientifically about elections? First of all, we have the assurance given by Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 455): "God selects for the highest service one who has grown into such a fitness for it as renders any abuse of the mission an impossibility. The All-wise does not bestow His highest trusts upon the unworthy. When He commissions a messenger, it is one who is spiritually near Himself." It is God who creates man and outlines his experience; it is He who determines man's place in His holy plan; it is He whose love appoints and anoints His representatives to bear witness to His just government and to give evidence of His wisdom.

Since complete control is in God's hands, political speeches with flatteries and denunciations, malicious distortions of fact, and efforts to hypnotize through propaganda can have no effect upon God's government; because they are false concepts, they cannot possibly influence or change divine Mind, or man, who reflects this Mind. When we hear bombastic speeches and encounter reports of dishonest methods we can rejoice that a divine influence is always present in human consciousness. This is the only influence. and its effect is to awaken and enlighten men, to energize right endeavor, to promote obedience to Principle. This divine influence keeps us invulnerable to mesmeric suggestion. We are governed and guided by the all-wise Mind alone. God never makes a mistake; so we too, in turning to this infinite intelligence for our light, are free from mistakes.

If there is a temptation to feel overwhelmed by the very noise of evil's methods, we may well recall Elijah's attitude when the prophets of Baal were shouting and calling upon their false god to give proof of his power. Their vigor did not make Elijah afraid. Their numbers and their noise did not impress him, because he knew they were calling to a god who did not exist to answer their prayers.

There can be great joy and firm conviction in our silent prayers about elections because we have had daily proofs of the goodness of God's rule, and we know He shares not His power with any counter-rule. God's omnipotence permits no evil power to exist or operate; God's infinite wisdom allows no misconceptions. Man, who has no separate Mind from God, is satisfied with God's will.

A right expression of government will result from a clear, enlightened understanding of God and of His reflection, man. Every moment we spend in endeavoring to comprehend the nature of God and to live as the reflection of His holy nature, we are contributing to the right manifestation of government.

We must fully realize that God's creation is governed by Principle, not by human personalities. A personal sense of good or evil, of power or weakness, of domination or helpless subservience, is a wholly false concept, a lie about a Principle-controlled universe, in which personal sense has no place.

In Article I, Section 9, of the Manual of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy states in part: "Law constitutes government, and disobedience to the laws of The Mother Church must ultimate in annulling its Tenets and By-Laws. Without a proper system of government and form of action, nations, individuals, and religion are unprotected." We must understand clearly that the function of our government is to express the operation of just, intelligent. impartial law. It is not the function of government to do men's thinking for them, work out their demonstrations of supply, or substitute regimentation for individual initiative.

The greatest influence in the direction of safeguarding one's individual initiative, dignity, and independence is the teaching of Christian Science, which reveals God's law of perfection—man's Godlikeness and his total reliance upon Spirit for his individuality and substance. Instead of belittling mankind, Christian Science reveals man in the light of the Christ as noble, intelligent, and supplied with all right ideas. It teaches that one is able, by demonstrating God's government, to do all things well.

As Christian Scientists we have the responsibility for maintaining the concept of government which best expresses in our human affairs God's government of man. Let us never by thought or word appear to give evil presence, activity, influence, or force. We stand before the world as witnesses to our confidence that on earth, as in heaven, God is supreme.

If thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shall thou ... find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.—Proverbs 2:1-6.