Christian Science brings new meaning to the familiar Christian injunction, "Take up the cross." Since the advent of Christianity the cross has become symbolic. To some, it means that the afflictions and hardships of material existence must be cheerfully accepted as a part of one's Christian duty. To Christian Scientists, however, the cross, properly understood, represents a joyous means of progress through the demonstration of Truth.

Christian Science shows that taking up the cross is an active part of our responsibility as Christian Scientists. This responsibility is patterned after the manner of Jesus. The Master bore his cross until the completion of his demonstration. He proved that it could not be an instrument of death in his experience.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 50), "The real cross, which Jesus bore up the hill of grief, was the world's hatred of Truth and Love." The Master's triumph over hatred and opposition was essential to Christianity. First, however, it was essential to Christ Jesus himself, for by this victory he obtained individual proof that the law of immortal Life sustains one under every attack of evil. This demonstration of Truth's power was also essential to Jesus' disciples and friends, who were aroused to a more spiritual idea of Life when they saw the resurrected Saviour. And this victory is essential to us as proof of divine Science. It gives evidence that life cannot be exterminated; that even the human body is not blotted out by death, a fact which Jesus proved by raising his body from the grave and by remaining physically with his disciples for forty days.

"Without the cross and healing, Christianity has no central emblem, no history," Mrs. Eddy avers on page 357 of "Miscellaneous Writings." The cross as the "central emblem" in the history of Christianity marks the point of the highest demonstration of Life over the mortal senses that the world has seen. Jesus' enemies mockingly said (Mark 15:30), "Save thyself, and come down from the cross." He was doing that very thing, but in a way that they could not see, let alone understand.

During his ministry Jesus raised several from the dead. Heartening as these proofs were, the scientific method of overcoming death through spiritual understanding was not completely illustrated until the Master raised himself from the grave. Thus the meaning of the cross is of great importance when viewed from a spiritual standpoint. Many look upon the cross and see only physical suffering. Let us look upon the cross and see beyond to the demonstration of Spirit over matter.

Even though our Way-shower pointed the path and demonstrated the victory of life over death so that the world would see that it could be done, his demonstration does not exempt others from making the same progress through their individual efforts. When we walk along a road, we may come to signposts showing which way to go. But the signs do not take us there. We must walk there ourselves and reach the destination through our own efforts. Taking up the cross is doing just this. We must meet and master error as it appears in human experience. Delaying the demonstration to some other time does not aid our progress. Through active healing and earnest application of the truths of Science to every problem, we take up the cross in our daily lives.

The cross may present tribulation to human sense; but when error is mastered through Truth, the cross is crowned with victory. We must learn not to fear encounters with evil, knowing that God fortifies us with the sword of Spirit, the true means of overcoming all evil. The Psalmist knew this and declared (Ps. 56:3, 4): "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God Ihave put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."

Mrs. Eddy's life clearly illustrates what it means to take up the cross: to oppose all error, to work out one's salvation unflinchingly with divine Love, to triumph with Truth. Our Leader was fully aware of her own devotion to the divine ideal. She knew well how God had sustained her under many difficult trials; she understood the nature of mortal mind in opposing the onward efforts of God-loving Christians; and she knew how to vanquish this opposition through divine Science. Mrs. Eddy proved the spiritual way of overcoming materiality. She could therefore say without reservation that she wished her students would take up the cross as she had willingly done in full service to God.

Knowing that the cross, scientifically understood, brought no penalty but only progress, she could say (Message for 1902, pp. 19, 20): "The great Master triumphed in furnace fires. Then, Christian Scientists, trust, and trusting, you will find divine Science glorifies the cross and crowns the association with our Saviour in his life of love. There is no redundant drop in the cup that our Father permits us. Christ walketh over the wave; on the ocean of events, mounting the billow or going down into the deep, the voice of him who stilled the tempest saith, 'It is I; be not afraid.'"

We would still be stumbling amid foggy teachings if we accepted the cross as our burden of responsibility, without the crown of triumph in divine Science. The cross and crown is the emblem of Christian Science. The cross without the crown would leave mortals floundering in error, not knowing how to escape. The crown without the cross at this period of human development would leave one with the absolute Truth but without its practical proof in healing sickness and purifying the sinner. The cross and crown illustrate the human and divine coincidence providing proof to human consciousness of the availability of the divine to save.

In the emblem of Christian Science the crown surrounds the cross. This is the higher hope of heaven on earth, the signet that God's presence is ever available to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" (Matt. 10:8). At present, mortals progress through the cross—through challenging and defeating materiality. They triumph with the crown, attaining victory over sin and disease. Each demonstration of God's allness floods consciousness with divine reality.

Divine Science crowns Christianity with Christ's healing power. We win the crown through our understanding of the infinite unfoldment of Life, forever manifested in spiritual consciousness, forever endowing man with the beauty and holiness of being. Man, the image and likeness of God, crowned through triumphant Truth, is the royal reflection of the infinitely sovereign One! Dwelling in the domain of Spirit, utilizing the dominion of Principle, the man of God is forever serving the Most High, forever being blessed and expressing the blessing he is forever receiving. No impostor or tyrant can threaten to remove his crown, for no slightest tinge of evil invades spiritual sovereignty. Man's crown is divinely bestowed, permanently placed, eternally upheld by the authority of Love.

Each individual idea in God's kingdom is equally and impartially crowned with the royalty of true being. No one takes another's crown, for each has his own. Man rejoices in individual completeness, and has no jealousy, for all reflect the same good from the same Father-Mother Love.

Actually the crown of victory is not withheld from anyone; but each of us must claim his crown, earn it, and merit it through spiritual worthiness and demonstration. This crown, unseen to material sense, is the supreme achievement of progress as universal error is subdued through the recognition of infinite harmony. The unchanging authority of Love enforces its omnipresent law of perfection until every individual gladly submits to divine Principle and consciously dwells in the atmosphere of Soul. All sense of mortality is lost as the crown of victory graces one's being in ineffable spiritual glory.

Each one who has named the name of Christian Science and has taken its purifying teachings into his heart has begun to take up the cross and meet the challenge of materiality, sin, disease, and death with the practice of Christ-healing. Each proof of healing through divine Science reveals the crown. Progress unfolds now, as demonstration succeeds demonstration, and triumph with it.