Before taking up the study of Christian Science, queries of this nature would frequently occur to me: What is the meaning of existence? Where does it lead, if indeed it leads anywhere but to annihilation? What is there that endures? What is the greatest good to be accomplished, and where does the way lie? What constitutes progress? It was all too evident that the great majority of mankind were striving for things that proved to be but baubles, things that, when won, brought no abiding joy, no peace,—in fact, too often the reverse.

Those who are not students of Christian Science sometimes regard with contempt the term "Science" when associated with the term "Christian," believing any and every religion to be a misstatement, since they hold any and every religion to be hypothetical and nonscientific. The dictum of to-day is, however, often reversed to-morrow by scholars. Medical science is an example of this. The remedies at one time prescribed for an ailment are often considered, at a later date, not only useless, but harmful. The ostensible object of medical science is to secure health to the people by preventing and curing disease; but after about four thousand years of so-called progress in this science, the last state appears to be much the same as the first. Einstein, an eminent natural scientist, is to-day propounding a theory whereby time and space are eliminated, both of which have hitherto been regarded and dealt with as realities by most people.

Before becoming a student of Christian Science I held the mental position that the developing of a good character was the only real progress possible to man; that there was always a right or a wrong course which might be pursued, and that in every instance it paid to choose the right one. Later, I found there was much more to be said on the question. When, a few years ago, a friend of mine was cured by Christian Science of what was called an incurable disease, I became interested in Christian Science; and, after studying it for a short time, searched Mrs. Eddy's works to learn what she had to say on the subject of progress. Her teaching was a wonderful illumination and revelation. I shall never forget my first reading of the lines from "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 181): "Progress is spiritual. Progress is the maturing conception of divine Love; it demonstrates the scientific, sinless life of man and mortal's painless departure from matter to Spirit, not through death, but through the true idea of Life,—and Life not in matter but in Mind." At last I had found an absolute statement of what progress is, positively opening the way to continual advancement and unfoldment.

Progress for mankind is, therefore, a process whereby the mortal is gradually laid aside for the immortal; a cleansing and purifying of human consciousness; a new ever clearer vision of God drawing us unto Him; a deepening affection for Truth; an understanding love for humanity, freeing mankind from error's shackles,—sin, disease, and death. It is the process which Paul described in his second epistle to the Corinthians, when he said, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

The time to begin and to continue this glorious progress is always now; and it must be striven for individually, for in no other way can this spiritual illumination come to the individual experience. John, the Revelator, beheld the new heaven and the new earth. The vision was made possible to him through his understanding of the Master's teachings and his own years of spiritual unfoldment and demonstration. To the human thought unaided by this process, the vision would have been impossible then, as it would be now. To all desiring to make this progress, the way is made plain in the Bible and in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. The assimilation of the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures and the teachings of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," are indispensable to the progress of every student of this Science. When the study of these books is commenced, one's face is turned in the right direction, and he begins to be equipped for advancement; but he must follow in the way which Jesus described as straight and narrow.

In order to progress, one of the first and indispensable requirements is to begin proving the new vision of the truth of being by works,—by overcoming evil with good, by destroying error with the spiritual understanding of Truth and its power. The unreality of all evil is exposed by these aforesaid precious books; but its unreality must be proved by each individual for himself, before he can say that he is freed from its shackles, and has come into the liberty and joy of divine sonship. Anything less than proof would be merely theoretical doctrine; and, as Mrs. Eddy states in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 235), "In Christian Science, progress is demonstration, not doctrine." Indeed, one's understanding of the truth of being may be said to be in proportion to his ability to demonstrate the unreality of evil. Therefore, he who would make progress must overcome sin, disease, and death in himself and for others. Jesus the Christ asked Peter three times in succession if he loved him; and three times in succession he pointed out to Peter that, if he loved him as he professed, Peter's love would be shown by feeding his sheep.

Another requirement of the student of Christian Science, without which progress cannot be made, is loyal obedience. He must strive to be faithful in all things, regardless of the seeming self-sacrifice this may entail. Mrs. Eddy quite evidently recognized the necessity for this quality in her students. One of her books, "Miscellaneous Writings," is dedicated to "loyal Christian Scientists in this and every land." Paul writes, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, consent to adopt its form of government,—the Rules and By-laws contained in the Manual of this church. Mrs. Eddy was inspired to write this Manual, as truly as she was inspired to write "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." It would be just as impossible to be a good and loyal citizen of the United States while violating the cherished laws of the land, as it would be to expect to make any real progress in Christian Science while being disobedient and disloyal to the Rules and By-laws constituting its form of church government as established by the divinely inspired Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

Another very important, if not indeed an essential requirement in the student who desires to make progress, is a willingness to work. He must be willing, not only to work, but to work hard. Idleness is a foe to both true happiness and progress. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 234) Mrs. Eddy says, "What hinders man's progress is his vain conceit, the Phariseeism of the times, also his effort to steal from others and avoid hard work; errors which can never find a place in Science."

Copyright, 1922, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts, Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.