Those who search for the truth find it. The Master, Christ Jesus, said (Matt. 7:7), "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." The honest inquirer is led step by step into all truth.

Fundamentally a Christian Scientist's loyalty is to God and His Christ. When this loyalty is present, God's answer to prayer is assured. As a student of this Science pursues his quest for the truth, he may be assailed by many subtle arguments and suggestions intended to weaken his trust in God, Truth, and to rob him of his joy and enthusiasm in serving the Church which Mary Baker Eddy established.

Truth is precious, and consequently the price to be paid for it is high. Truth demands the qualities of honesty, purity, self-renunciation, loyalty, and, certainly as much as any other, watchfulness. Christ Jesus evidently considered watchfulness a universal requirement, for he said, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:37).

It is well occasionally to remind ourselves of the need of watchfulness with regard to our support of The Mother Church, its branches, and the church activities designed by our Leader to bring healing to all mankind. From time to time attempts are made to discredit Mrs. Eddy and her Church by means of propaganda circulated to Christian Science practitioners and other workers in the Field. The public also receives literature of this nature.

What should be our attitude toward such propaganda? Should we condone it? No. Should we ignore it? No. Should we pray about it? Yes. Attacks on our Church activities and the consecrated workers who carry them on are annulled by the truth revealed in Christian Science; and our consistent knowing of the truth will heal every erroneous situation and bless both enemy and friend.

One form of propaganda is the anonymous letter. Most Christian Science practitioners are aware of this form of attack. The anonymous writer is an untrustworthy writer. If he had the courage of his opinions, he would not hesitate to disclose his name. The alert student of Christian Science will not identify himself with anonymity. He knows that every right idea has identity, and without identity it includes no truth, intelligence, or influence. Prayerful work in this direction will stop this type of abuse which, if not watched against, might distract and disturb a busy worker in the Field. The progress of a watchful student will not be halted for a moment by anonymous complaints.

There has probably never been a time in the history of our movement when we could look forward with greater confidence to the steady progress of our Cause. The Christian world and many beyond the boundaries of Christendom are reaching out for a practical religion which is logical, demonstrable, and Scriptural. Christian Science supplies this need. On all sides there are signs of progress in our movement.

The Christian Science periodicals are in increasing demand; the weekly Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly is being more and more widely studied; the healing truths of Christian Science are being practiced by an army of consecrated workers. Thus the power of this Science is spreading its healing influence throughout the earth.

Anonymous propaganda or a circular signed by disaffected students or by others obviously lacking in understanding of Christian Science is given no credence by one who is obedient to the Master's command to watch and pray. Mrs. Eddy alerts us to the need of watchfulness where she writes in the Manual of The Mother Church, under the caption "Alertness to Duty" (Art. VIII, Sect. 6): "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned."

Our duty to our Leader includes our duty to The Mother Church and all its activities. If a question arises concerning our organization, a member of The Mother Church can always make inquiry by addressing The Mother Church. Our beloved Leader intended the Church of Christ, Scientist, to express the spirit of true democracy, in which every member has equal rights and privileges.

It should be remembered that The Mother Church and all its activities stand today as she bequeathed them to us. Meticulous care is taken to maintain exactly not only the text of her revelation as left by her, but also the methods of organization she approved. The Church Manual directs the affairs of The Mother Church in the way God revealed it to Mrs. Eddy. A close study of the Manual enables the student of Christian Science to appreciate the care with which its provisions have been upheld since our Leader left us.

If a student is in doubt concerning any question with regard to Christian Science, he will be led to the answer, not by listening to the Sanballats and Geshems of personal propaganda, but by prayerful study of the Bible and the latest editions of our Leader's works.

The Church of Christ, Scientist, moves majestically forward. Principle, not persons, guides and governs its affairs. As Christian Scientists we have cause for rejoicing in the increasing prosperity of our movement and in the faithful workers throughout the Field who, through watchfulness, stand firm in their loyalty to our revered Leader and to the Church which she established.

Robert Ellis Key