Editorial December 15, 1906 Issue

RAPID PROGRESS

Annie M. Knott

The question, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" (Science and Health, p. 495) is one which many are asking, and its answer, as given in our text-book, is wonderful in its clearness and comprehensiveness. The student of Mind Science would do well to refer to it very frequently. A faithful and persistent effort to practise what it points out reveals the depth of its meaning.

There are many calls to-day for our more rapid progress in the understanding of Truth. Even if we have reached a measure of harmony in our own experience, there are many who need our aid and who are eager to avail themselves of what Christian Science has to offer in the way of healing. With these the foremost consideration usually is how this healing may be most quickly realized. Mortals are impatient of suffering, and in almost every instance are weary of experiments when they come to Christian Science for help. What is more, they have also well-nigh exhausted their rather limited supply of faith in the possibilities of good, and are therefore easily discouraged if their ailments are not quickly overcome. The Master rightly estimated mortal sense when he said, even of his own disciples, "O ye of little faith." From the force of education mortals in general have faith only in material ways and means, their faith in the spiritual being smaller than "a grain of mustard seed," according to Christ Jesus.

Those who seek help in Christian Science soon find that they have something to do for themselves; that in addition to the study of the Bible and our text-book, it is necessary to put into practice their teachings, and this involves the breaking away from old habits of thinking, speaking, and acting. While it would hardly be fair to call the bondage of material belief, including sin and suffering, self-imposed, it is undeniable that mortals hug their delusions,—cling to the fetters which universal false belief has imposed upon them. The tendency to keep in memory the most distressing experiences and to recall with the utmost care every ailment from infancy to the present hour, is sometimes almost amusing. Those who do it are quite forgetful that at each recital they are welding anew the links of this supposititious chain of error, and greatly hindering their own progress. In Christian Science we learn that nothing is real in our experience except that which relates us to God, good. If suffering has seemed necessary to awaken us from the dream of materiality, this implies the destruction of a false sense; then why should any cling to that which is destructible?

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