On this program Elmer Charles Paxton of Dallas, Texas, told of his own experience, as follows:

Over a period of twenty years I accepted the notion that social drinking was a harmless way to good fellowship, both in the business world and in social contacts. I was in sales work and began to drink for social reasons. Lightheartedness and congeniality seemed to come easily with a few drinks, and I classed any unpleasant consequences as an accident or the result of faults of character. I seldom traced any unpleasant occurrences to drink itself. Actually, I guess I was fooling myself badly, and my drinking grew to excess.

Then came the sad day of awakening. I had lost my home, friends, my business, and I was sick at heart. With this sad array of companions, I turned to Christian Science.

Through this healing religion I saw I had to face this desire to drink and overcome it, and I learned a little of the moral freedom this brings. But I hesitated because I felt there would be much loss of congeniality and good will from many business associates and friends, and this, I thought, was important in my work. But through prayer and diligent study of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, I gradually saw that as I corrected and purified my thinking, my daily life would show improvement and freedom.

For a while I was strongly tempted by appetite and habit, but I continued to pray and study. Then it became necessary for me to go on a sales trip. I dreaded it because from past experience I knew that there would be much drinking. On the trip I earnestly prayed for understanding to meet the situation in the proper manner. I studied Science and Health with this need in mind and found this helpful statement (p. 393): "Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man."

As I studied, the realization came that I no longer had an argument with myself. The truth of man's being as reflecting all the qualities of God was borne in upon me, and I realized that I was free from any bondage of alcohol.

I never experienced any of the bad results I had anticipated. Rather, there was an improvement along all lines. My work was accomplished with less effort and more efficiency. There were fewer misunderstandings and more good will. My friendships were certainly improved, and my recreation became far more pleasant. My business relations with my firm and my customers are on a much better and more successful basis.

The commentary was as follows:

The problem of our guest has been duplicated time and time again. Everyone in business knows of the temptation to use social drinking as a means to success, whereas a sound business must be built on right ideas and the desire to serve. In other walks of life people hear the argument that social drinking is necessary for lasting friendships. But congenial relationships and permanent happiness are not built on appetites or pleasures which enslave. They must be built on unselfishness, strength of character, and the ability to think clearly.

Mr. Paxton found this true. Social drinking led eventually to loss of his business, his friends, even his home. Human will power didn't bring reform. But at this low ebb there came an awakening. Through Christian Science he learned how to avail himself of the help of divine Love, God, the unfailing source of all that brings reform to human character. By relying on God he overcame completely and permanently the false appetite. Through the understanding of God he found his friendships improved, his success assured, his recreation more genuine. In place of bondage he found happiness and freedom.

If you wonder how Christian Science deals with the problem of false appetites, let me tell you that the answer doesn't involve the loss of anything worthwhile. But it does mean looking in the right direction for good fellowship, enjoyment, and success. A very simple statement of Christ Jesus tells us where to look for true peace of mind. He said, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." He said also, "Ask, and ye shall receive."

Now one might say, "This sounds good in theory, but how can God be of any help to me in my business and social contacts?" In Christian Science we find that God is not some remote or far-off being. We learn to understand Him as ever-present, divine Love, tenderly providing all that man could need. He is the source of all good, the Giver of good to man. He is perfect Mind on whom we can rely for intelligence and strength of character. God is infinite Spirit. And so the real man is spiritual right now, perfect and spotless in purity.

Now this understanding can be made practical in our human experience. For example, if we need respect and loyalty of others in business, we can earn it by expressing the good judgment, integrity, and unselfishness which God gives to man in His likeness. The ability for clear thinking and right decisions is not gained by dulling one's mentality, but by learning to keep thought in communion with the divine Mind. Trying to build loyalty and clear thinking on intoxication is like trying to write your name in water.

Sometimes people turn to alcohol to feel at ease with others. But we cannot overcome a sense of insecurity in this way. We find our peace by understanding man's inseparable relationship to God. We cannot solve our problems by running away from them. We conquer a sense of inadequacy by learning the dominion and ability which belong to man created by perfect Mind. True hospitality does not depend upon what we serve our guests, but must come from the heart—and down underneath, everyone knows it. Realizing this, you can dare to be different.

But suppose one seems unable to control a false appetite? Here also the remedy lies in reliance on the power of God, in diligent scientific prayer, and in daily systematic efforts to uplift and purify thought. God has already endowed the real man—your real nature— with moral strength, courage, and purity. This is what Christian Science taught our guest.

Friends, the answer to this problem is summarized in this helpful passage from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 58): "Unselfish ambition, noble life-motives, and purity,—these constituents of thought, mingling, constitute individually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence."

The musical selection on the program was Hymn No. 135 from the Christian Science Hymnal.

Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.—Romans 8:38,39.