"All power and happiness are spiritual, and proceed from goodness." This brief, comprehensive statement by Mrs. Eddy in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 155) discloses the secret of that state for which all mankind consciously or unconsciously labors. This truth will be accepted by some as a beautiful idealistic thought, but impracticable in application. Others, with a cynicism born of the notion that only great wealth, fame, personal achievement, or social leadership brings satisfaction, will utterly deny it. Many, however, are proving that this desirable state is attained and retained when reared on the secure foundation which a correct understanding of God alone can give.

Christian Science teaches the allness and ever-presence of God, divine good, and the consequent nothingness and never-presence of evil. Thus, one sees that the myriad modes of sin, disease, sorrow, loneliness, despondency, and lack are false beliefs. In loving wisdom our Leader, through her inspired writings, gently leads thought from the paths of personal sense into the way where happiness and goodness go hand in hand.

With the aid of the Concordances to the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and other writings by Mary Baker Eddy, one will find many enlightening references concerning happiness. He will discover that he must work for this quenchless spiritual quality "that fadeth not away." He will be convinced that he must strive for that glorious day of understanding when he can clearly see and prove that his happiness is not dependent upon the personal presence and whims of a loved one, the "ups and downs" of circumstance, or the pride of possession. In this process, however, a student of Christian Science does not become austere, or rigidly deny himself all the innocent pleasures which tend to cheer and brighten human life; but he endeavors to prove by progressive demonstration that true happiness and spirituality are concurrent with obedience to Truth and Love.

It is well for us to consider some of the depredations of personal sense which would boisterously or subtly attempt the destruction of man's God-given harmony and dominion. Many of us are like the one whose conversation with Jesus is recorded in the Gospels. From our youth up the letter of the Ten Commandments has been obediently kept, and no doubts have assailed us that we deservedly bear the name of Christian. However, after the study of Christian Science is begun, we discover that the truth demands such perfection of thought, motive, and deed that we still lack much, and must start anew, that our individual reflection of the one Mind may be undimmed. The following lines of a hymn convey this thought clearly:

How many of "the little foxes" of speech and deed have we driven out before they made us, as well as others, unhappy? How often, in sweet humility, have we rejoiced in another's good? Or, lacking humility, have we let self-importance, envy, or prejudice seal our lips where we might rightly have praised? How often have we withheld the condemning word or look and replaced it with expressions of loving-kindness?

Brooding remorsefully over sins of commission and omission does no one any good. How much better it is to shake ourselves free from the dust of a past mistake which has seemed to settle on us like a pall, knowing that "having no Truth, it will have no past, present, or future" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 285). In every victory over sin, we shall gain more strength, peace, and confidence to go forward to the final triumph over all sin.

What blessed hope Christian Science brings to one who feels that because of ill health he has become a burden to himself and others! Let such a one learn through the teachings of Christian Science that all disease, whether believed to be incurable, hereditary, incipient, or at an advanced stage, is powerless, unreal, since God, the one and only creator, made all and pronounced it good; then renewed hope will spring up within him, and the vision of a happy, useful life open up before his eyes.

The belief of poverty, lack, a sense of being deprived of good which others have in abundance, contribute to a cramped, crabbed, or resigned outlook upon existence which many would gladly exchange for a better view, but know not how to do so until God's law of abundance of all good for every one of His children is presented to them in Christian Science. In one of the Psalms we read, "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." Through diligent study and application of God's laws concerning demand and supply one should and can rout from his thinking the false beliefs which have prevented the manifestation of prosperity in his experience.

The promise of Jesus that those who mourn shall be comforted, is being fulfilled to-day. Many who have been weary and "heavy laden" with grief are learning to rejoice, since God, who is Love, never afflicts, never sends evil that good may come. Our understanding that God is ever present compassionate and perfect Love heals these misconceptions of His true nature.

Every mode of divine good in the eternal Mind is ours by divinely mental reflection. Knowing this, let us go forward with ever increasing expectancy. An interesting definition of "engineer" is "one who constructs works of offense and defense." His duty is to carry through a project which will be of benefit to men. By skillful planning he cuts through, surmounts, removes obstacles which would prevent the success of his undertaking.

It is enlightening to think of happiness as a project, as something worth having, and worth the striving to attain. One who manifests happiness, sweet temper, and joy is an asset to any community, a blessing to his associates, while he is enjoying pleasant thinking himself. One who is temperamentally inclined toward moroseness, a sour, gloomy aspect, would do well to start work on this project of good cheer. If moral courage seems lacking with which to take the offensive against error, one must realize that this energizing quality is already his by nature of man's reflection of Truth. Divine Mind is constantly supplying all right ideas with which to build a strong defense. Divine wisdom directs his path over, around, or through seeming obstructions. Error's dark prophecies cannot minimize, discredit, or reverse his progress, for Love leads the way with "the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."