The faithful student of Christian Science prays daily, fervently and systematically, to gain a clear recognition of his own spiritual nature and capabilities as an idea of God. His prayerful work also includes the recognition of a universe, consisting wholly of spiritual ideas, which are governed by divine Love alone, and which dwell in complete unity and co-operation with each other. Having established as clearly as possible in thought this great fact of universal spiritual brotherhood, the Christian Scientist is ready to apply it to every individual experience and every world problem.

The student of Christian Science should be well informed of what is going on in the world, both at home and abroad, so that he may help to establish peace and good will. Is there a problem of conflict or war among nations? He immediately recognizes this as a lie or false belief about God's creation, and he rejects it. He quickly replaces this false belief with a clear acknowledgment that God's universe is spiritual and not material, peaceful and not warlike. He maintains that divine Mind alone controls all thought and action and that peaceful relations always exist under God's government.

Is there a report of famine, calamity, lack at home or abroad? The Scientist immediately rejects this report also as a lie and recognizes the ever-present abundance of God's order, goodness, and ample provision for His spiritual ideas. He follows this prayerful activity with practical human footsteps, such as the contribution of funds or services to aid those in need.

Does the world momentarily seem to be at peace? The Christian Scientist still has work to do. He continues to maintain daily his recognition of the unchanging spiritual nature and brotherhood of all creation as safe under the control of divine Love. His positive, constructive work aids in the prevention of calamities and in furthering the ultimate establishment of permanent peace among men and nations.

Christ Jesus, our Way-shower, declared that permanent peace can be established only through spiritualization of thought and action, and not through merely material methods. This pure approach to peace aroused the hatred of the materially-minded priesthood which attempted to destroy Jesus and his mission. But the attempt failed. The Christ, Truth, which the Master taught and demonstrated, is still with us, and it is fulfilling through Christian Science what Ezekiel prophesied regarding the destruction of all evil (21:27), "I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." That is, the Christ will receive the recognition and fruitage which it deserves. It will establish its dominion over all the earth.

We have no right to submit to the belief that the world is going from bad to worse because of the great stirring up of evil events. In many great moments of history when error seemed to be supreme over good, the power of the Christ was demonstrated. This power was present to support those who stood for Truth, who kept thought fixed on the omnipresence and omnipotence of God.

Christ Jesus and his faithful follower in this age, Mary Baker Eddy, worked during their careers in troubled times and sometimes against great odds. Yet through their faithful discipleship to Truth, they proved in the words of one of our hymns (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 86),

Thus they showed that even one individual, acknowledging and standing firm in the understanding of Christian Science, has victory on his side. And they demonstrated that progress in human affairs is inevitable, though we may not mo mentarily recognize it.

As we understandingly acknowledge the presence of the Christ and let it govern our thoughts and acts, we bear witness to the same celestial power which enabled Jesus to overcome all the obstacles of the flesh. His demonstration of the divine power of the Christ and the discovery of the Science of Christianity by our Leader today constitute the hope of the world for the establishment of permanent peace and brotherhood among men and nations.

It has been said that there is a point of rest in every whirling storm. The Christian Scientist, witnessing to the presence and power of the eternally active but restful Christ, becomes an agent for peace wherever he may be—in the home, in business, in church, or anywhere in the world. He rejoices in the admonition and promise in Psalms (46:10), "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

The advancing Christian Scientist learns to cultivate the practice of quiet communion with God. Not only daily, but frequently during the day, he turns in prayer to establish a deep sense of man's unity with Spirit. In doing this our Leader set an example for us. She tells us (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 133), "In the midst of depressing care and labor I turn constantly to divine Love for guidance, and find rest."

In the quietness of silent communion we find that God is ever present, that He is the only power; and we are at peace. May every Christian Scientist today live up to his highest understanding of the Christ and of the true nature of God's creation. In doing this he will contribute his part toward the establishment of permanent peace on earth and good will toward men.

Harold Molter