As one who has been studying Christian Science for many...

E. M. Ramsay—Lerwick, Scotland

The Shetland Times

As one who has been studying Christian Science for many years, you will perhaps allow me to explain a few points which may seem obscure to those who are looking into Christian Science for the first time.

Mrs. Eddy points out that every true thought, every good quality, whether manifested by man or beast, is a reflection of the divine nature. All false beliefs, erroneous theories, evil desires, are manifestations of that confused sense of things called by our Saviour "a liar, and the father of it." These false beliefs appear for a season to be true, have often the sanction of antiquity, or appear as the latest scientific discovery, but the time comes or will come when they are seen to be delusions and to pass away into the limbo of things forgotten. Thus theories once held by the learned are now known to be false by the man in the street.

The reality of matter is still for all practical purposes accepted by the world at large; the philosopher and the natural scientist may hold it unreal in theory, but they are as much at its mercy as the unlearned. Christian Science alone gives us an explanation of its nature which enables mankind to begin to get free from its trammels.

The first chapter of Genesis tells us that God created all, and pronounced all which He had created "very good;" but it will be seen that no mention is made in this chapter of matter or of a material creation. The account which is contained in the second chapter differs on all points from that which is given in the first chapter, and it is therefore plain that these two accounts cannot refer to the same occurrence.

If it fell to out lot to have to choose a traveling companion or a dairymaid, to appoint a school mistress or a general, should we not be looking in reality for certain mental qualities? Cheerfulness, unselfishness, honesty, skill, kindness, learning, originality, courage, genius, — none of these things are material. The perishable outward appearance of what we call a man bears no resemblance to God, who is declared to be "a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions," but the true qualities of heart or head are manifestations of God's nature. In the same way Ruskin has pointed out that the noblest buildings are the outward expressions of truth, purity, and other mental qualities : "Good architecture has life, truth, and joy in it."

Thus we see that what we call matter or material is not the essence, the inner reality of man, beast, or cathedral. The material senses cannot see God; how then can they see God's image or likeness? The glory and substantiality of the spiritual universe, the universe as God made it and which He pronounced very good, is discernible only to the "pure in heart." Christian Science — the scientific explanation of our Lord's teachings — is showing us how to attain to this purity, and every step on the road brings us into greater health and happiness.

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