In the hill country of New England is a locality in which one mountain stands alone, rising high above the neighboring hills, reaching skyward with a bold and determined urge. It almost becomes articulate, as if it were saying: "There is an upthrust in me. I must be true to my individual mountain stature."

What does it mean to stand alone? Mountain ridges or ranges are often of similar height and pattern; human beings fall into groups—labor, political, racial, national, religious—animated by a common interest and purpose. But group identification does not define an individual and his capabilities.

To be a genuine individual, one must be willing to stand alone, even though it means a break with generally accepted standards. It means nonconformity to erring mortal standards since such standards are a subtle foe to individual initiative and attainment.

Acceptance of mortal standards does not bring happiness and satisfaction to one. Why? Because they deny fulfillment to the deepest longing of the human heart to demonstrate that one is in reality an individual idea of God with innate capacities of freedom and expression.

The life of Christ Jesus was witness to the inherent power of the individual when controlled by God and thereby freed from bondage to erring standards. When he was a child, it was said of him (Luke 2:40), "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."

In the same chapter is drawn the picture of the boy in the temple "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions" (verse 46). And we read, "All that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."

In childhood and youth the pattern was set for his adult development. This development under God's control meant following standards much higher than those set for human conduct. In startling language he once said to his disciples (Matt. 10:35, 36): "I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother. . . . And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."

Standing alone with his unshakable convictions, Jesus was led by way of the cross to the resurrection and ascension, thus to his complete demonstration of man's true nature and destiny.

Christian Science, the religion discovered and founded by Mary Baker Eddy, demands of its stu dents a radical break with the predominant beliefs of mankind, beliefs in matter as the controlling force in one's destiny. It is a revolutionary religion, but one based upon sound premises and logical conclusions.

Our Leader herself well knew the price exacted of one ordained of God to stand humanly alone against the descending avalanche of material beliefs. For a considerable period she was the only articulate Christian Scientist in the world !

It was a lonely task for the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science to present and uphold the radical truth that materiality has no legitimate foundation, that matter with its phenomena—sin, sickness, death—is nought in the presence of God, Spirit, and of man, His spiritual image and likeness.

On page 5 of "Unity of Good," Mrs. Eddy uses the phrase "upward individual convictions." The full quotation is comprised of statements regarding the allness of Truth and the nothingness of error: "Every one should be encouraged not to accept any personal opinion on so great a matter, but to seek the divine Science of this question of Truth by following upward individual convictions, undisturbed by the frightened to sense of any need of attempting to solve every Life-problem in a day."

The words "upward individual convictions" are applicable to every student of Christian Science. Are we responding to that upward thrust of thought, that reach for the infinite, which is our only reason for being? It exists in every one of us, no matter how deeply buried it may seem to be underneath layers of easygoing, materialistic thinking.

Some individuals are prone to fall in line with majority opinions, but others can usually be counted upon to think independently of group pressure. Let us ask ourselves: "Am I a man or woman who always says Yes when serving on board or committee, inclined to be complacent and compliant regardless of the merits of proposals rather than endanger pleasant relations with my fellow workers by disagreeing?"

It may not always be an easy matter for one to hold to his individual convictions and to disagree with his associates. But such a stand is sometimes essential if one is to preserve his integrity. Even in small matters it may seem difficult, since one would naturally choose to be in agreement with his fellow workers. Someone once remarked that foes to progress come not so much from those approaching from an opposite direction as from those who are pursuing the same route.

Thoreau once wrote: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." If we detect a lack of alertness in our thinking and speaking, a drowsy acquiescence in wrong majority opinions, it is perhaps time we began to listen to a different drummer, to listen to the directions which come from God, divine Mind.

The blare of the band which leads the human procession is no substitute for the music of the drummer meant for us individually. We lose our spiritual balance, the rhythm of harmonious living, if we drown out the music of the different drummer.

In her Message to The Mother Church for 1901, Mrs. Eddy voices a fundamental truth to her students (p. 20), "The Christian Scientist is alone with his own being and with the reality of things." It cannot be otherwise. It is the necessity of one's true nature to stand alone with his "upward individual convictions."