Christian Science is conferring upon mankind the inestimable benefit of showing them the way of right thinking. It is pointing out this way with a refreshing certitude that avoids all the wavering hypotheses, the limiting "ifs" and "buts" of conventional religion and philosophy. Mankind has in its aspiring moments agonized over the uncertainty of all things human, and when it has turned to teachers authorized by public opinion for the assurance of stability, it has usually been met with vague promises for the future which are not binding upon the present. This future has been enshrouded in so much mystery that even the most glowing prospects of ultimate relief were not potent to dispel the fears, the sins, and the sufferings of today. The apostle's declaration that "now is the day of salvation" has been a dead letter, and not even a signal of hope to many who sought help from their religious guides, while under these same circumstances the calm, joyous security of Christian Science bathed the feverish temples of doubt and uncertainty with the touch of cooling, cleansing waters.

What is it to think right? Even to think in accordance with Truth. Christian Science teaches that God is Truth. Therefore to think truthfully is to think in a godlike manner. Right thinking places the aspiring Christian in the attitude of unity with God, brings to pass the atonement,—the at-one-ment,—and constitutes the silent communion which fulfils the demand, "Pray without ceasing." The psalmist sang: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

Only through righteous thinking can men experience the spiritual joy of beholding God's face, that is, realizing His character, entering into the enjoyment of knowing Him as He truly is, the ever active source of infinite bounty, of all harmony, beauty, happiness, and heavenly bliss. Then it is clear that all unrighteous thinking must operate to hide God's face from men, must act like a veil to prevent the clear recognition of Truth, must counteract one's prayer, and make the desire for at-one-ment and communion of none avail. Are we certain that such misconceptions are not at this very time trying to cut us off from receiving what we need and legitimately desire of God's infinite good? The belief that God is the author of evil as well as of good would have this effect, because it would color prayer with the dread of receiving evil in answer to our request for good. In our dealings with our fellow men, even a suspicion concerning their honesty has a tendency to mar our joy. How much more would this be the case if we indulged in the misconception that omnipotence was capable of knowing, that is, of harboring or entertaining evil. To think right about God is productive of constant blessings, definite answers, great rewards.

Only by right thinking, by the spiritual understanding which is at once Christian and scientific, can mankind hear the voice of the good shepherd calling to his sheep which have strayed in the mountains. Jesus once explained, "He that is of God heareth God's words," and when he stood before Pilate he made the statement, both comforting and full of warning, "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." To be "of the truth" is to be truthful, to think right and so act right. Christian Science is showing mankind how to take advantage of this communion with Truth in order to reflect it to others and thus save the sinner and heal the sick. The great Wayshower defined the supposititious source of evil, generally called devil, as "a liar" and said that the truth abode not in him. Evil and its effects are devoid of truth. Evil is error, and it is to be corrected in human experience first by being recognized as error, and then by being made to give place to truth. To be "of the truth" means to be in that attitude of mind which is constantly uncovering the untrue and proving it to be unreal. This process applied to sin and sickness destroys them. Truth is ever wiping out error, and the realization of this fact operates as the effectual prayer referred to by James as potent not only to save the sinner but to heal the sick as well.

This is the practice of Christian Science, to realize the activity of Truth in overcoming error, of good in destroying evil, of Life in proving everything unreal and untrue that would try to limit man's dominion. These healing works are proofs of spiritual understanding. They come to him "that is of God" and to him that is "of the truth," to the sincere servant of God who seeks to dwell in the understanding of Truth. Right thinking inevitably results in right acting; correct Christian teaching, in works of saving and healing; true preaching, in scientific practice. Thus the Science of Christianity can never be separated from its art or application.

Truth is powerful. One cannot understand it and yet remain passive. Truth is never quiescent. Once it has entered human consciousness, it begins to transform that consciousness into the likeness of the anointed; it is effective in making it conform to Truth's image and likeness. Those who are wholly uninstructed in Christian Science, but who hear the spoken word at a Sunday service or at a Wednesday evening meeting, or who attend a lecture on Christian Science and there catch a glimpse of Truth's infinite power, or who read of it in Mrs. Eddy's writings,—all who through any of these ways come into mental touch with the truth set forth by Christian Science, receive the imprint of an abiding influence. It may not show itself immediately, yet this seed of Spirit will surely push through the soil of materialism, and the harvest of good will follow in due time.

A careful spiritual education is needed to fit one to practise Christian Science. Though in the face of the infinitude of good he may constantly feel like a beginner at school, nevertheless there will be progress in response to conscientious effort. As his understanding of the truth grows, so does the efficacy of his reflection of it. The privilege is great and the task sacred. Those who are engaged in this reformatory and healing work are constantly reminded of the need of faithfulness and whole-souled consecration. On page 40 of her work entitled "No and Yes," Mrs. Eddy writes:"I instruct my students to pursue their mental ministrations very sacredly, and never to touch the human thought save to issues of Truth; ... never to take away the rights, but only the wrongs of mankind." A prayer of unrighteousness would be helpful neither to the one who thought it nor to the one in whose behalf it was given. Such an effort would involve human will-power of some sort, and would bear the mark of mesmerism or hypnotism. Christian Science utterly repudiates such thinking, and shows that it has no connection with the prayer of faith or spiritual understanding, except as an example of a supposititious opposite.

Spiritual certainty and satisfaction await all those who will take up the joyous task of learning to think right. Every question as to man's true origin and genuine potentialities will be answered as the student progresses. No problem of the individual, of the community, or of the nation can baffle the irresistible logic of Christian Science, based on divine reason and revelation. The world conditions of today will find their final solution tomorrow in the vast, all-embracing, Christian, and scientific realm of righteousness.