In some way one needs to turn definitely to Christian Science in order to receive the full benefit of its demonstrable Principle. Yet the whole world to-day is unquestionably feeling the efficacy of Christian Science, for the unfoldment of Principle acts as a leaven which permeates all states of thought whether they seem to desire it or not. In any community, the practice of Christian Science is of immense value to all, for the proving, in any one instance, that infinite Mind is manifest as harmony and freedom shows that the proof is possible in all instances everywhere. Each student of Christian Science is fulfilling his real responsibility in the world in proportion as he turns his attention wholly to divine Principle which, manifest as spiritual idea, is the reality in place of any human sense of persons or things. He must know that man is never in contact with anything but divine intelligence, since there can be nothing outside of infinite Mind and its infinite expression. Thus each one is entitled for himself to see intelligence manifest, and one is working rightly when he understands that intelligence is manifest in spite of, and in place of, any human seeming. Knowing this for one's self is not using Christian Science with the special intention to change the thinking and acting of some one else, for it is simply reasoning rightly on the basis of Principle about what really is. One needs at least to desire help through Christian Science, and in one way or another turn to divine intelligence as the source of good in order to have Christian Science treatment.

A Christian Scientist is never a mere busybody, giving his attention to the problems of others when he is not asked to do so. Even in Christian Science practice it is only human belief and not really a troubled man or woman that presents itself for healing, and the one who is really practicing Christian Science considers the false beliefs that seem to be troubling others only when his help is requested, or when the problem seems definitely to be his own as well. Suppose, for instance, one has a friend who seems to be sick. In such a case the true Christian Scientist does not set to work to ascertain and replace with his understanding of Principle the false beliefs that seem to be suggesting themselves to his friend, but knows that he for himself is entitled to see divine intelligence manifest as all there is to a friend, and, in knowing this, he minds his own business with gladness. Until one's understanding of Christian Science is especially sought, one's service to his fellow men may be simply to prove Christian Science for himself and replace any anxiety for the welfare of others with "quietness and assurance for ever" in the fact that Principle does indeed govern man. On page 284 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says, "Even the humanitarian at work in this field of limitless power and good may possess a zeal without knowledge, and thus mistake the sphere of his present usefulness."

In one sense all right work is impersonal, because the belief that evil of any sort is a person, a thing, or in a place, or is part of a person, thing, or place must be overcome by the understanding of infinite Mind and its infinite idea as the only reality. Speaking of the passage in Luke where Christ Jesus "was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake," Mrs. Eddy says on page 190 of "Miscellaneous Writings," "It could not have been a person that our great Master cast out of another person; therefore the devil herein referred to was an impersonal evil, or whatever worketh ill. In this case it was the evil of dumbness, an error of material sense, cast out by the spiritual truth of being; namely, that speech belongs to Mind instead of matter, and the wrong power, or the lost sense, must yield to the right sense, and exist in Mind." The proper distinction is not between any so-called "personal" and "impersonal" treatment for there is no such classification in Christian Science, but between working strictly for one's self on the problems that present themselves as one's own, and working for others on problems that are supposed to be theirs. It would be a misnomer to call treating others without being requested to do so "working impersonally."

It is true, of course, that in some cases what seems to be one's problem may seem to be another's at the same time. This may be the case with husband and wife, parents and children, or even with associates in the general intercourse of the world. In such cases, however, the real Christian Scientist is scrupulous in considering what is strictly his affair, unless he is asked to help the others concerned. As Mrs. Eddy says on page 20 of her Message for 1901: "We have no moral right and no authority in Christian Science for influencing the thoughts of others, except it be to serve God and benefit mankind. Man is properly self-governed, and he should be guided by no other mind than Truth, the divine Mind." People generally need to understand that promiscuous treatment without the desire or consent of others treated is not in accord with Christian Science. The right way is to know unceasingly that the true "I" is the I am, which sees and knows as the real "you" only infinite spiritual idea. Divine intelligence, knowing the true man, is the only Mind that is ever really doing anything.

If, however, a person thinks that some one is treating him without his consent, there is nothing whatever to fear. Instead, he needs actually to rejoice that divine intelligence is the only influence and is all that is expressing itself in any way. One cannot be affected in the slightest by the thoughts of others when he knows that infinite Mind alone can think, act, be conscious of, or know anything. Infinite Mind, of course, is conscious only of good. Understanding this, a man should not care in the slightest how adversely others may be criticizing him if he is honestly endeavoring to practice in accord with Principle. The only treatment that ever avails is that which emanates from the divine consciousness. God, the one Mind, is the only real practitioner, and is always effectively knowing the truth. What is not of God is powerless, for it is only suppositional opposite of the infinite, and such a supposition is actually nonexistent. All the while that suppositional mortal mind claims to be thinking, the divine Mind is the only Mind, and is perfectly conscious of its spiritual idea in place of whatever may appear to the mortal senses. One who comprehends this truth as revealed in Christian Science rejoices in acting in accord with the Golden Rule, and finds plenty of occupation in turning his attention to Principle and away from the belief of human persons.

Gustavus S. Paine.