Sunday School Notes and Comments

with contributions from L. E. Kempton

In a Christian Science Sunday School class of boys, some of whom were attending high school and some a university, the teacher in turning to God for guidance in imparting to them the truths of Christian Science, himself learned many valuable lessons.

The pupils continually brought to him problems arising from the conflicts between what they were being taught in Sunday school and the teaching they were receiving in high school and university. One day a pupil said: "We come to Sunday school, and you tell us one thing. We go to school, and we are taught something entirely opposite." The teacher asked, "Which is true?" The pupil replied, "What you teach us is true, but what are we to do about it?" In answer the teacher said: "Well, there is a solution to this question. It is right that you should receive a liberal education. At present much that is being taught in the schools is in conflict with the truth of being. You can consistently pursue your studies in natural science, for instance, and at the same time continue to gain an ever clearer sense of the spiritual Science of being."

In the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly for that day there occurred the passage on page 547 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Briefly, this is Darwin's theory," and, continuing, she analyzes this belief from the standpoint of her own clear spiritual perception. In the course of the questions and answers for that day it was made clear that Mrs. Eddy does not advocate the acceptance of that theory, but she tells what the theory is. The teacher continued to explain that what is taught in natural science is in the realm of material phenomena, not in the realm of Spirit. He showed that as pupils keep this point in view they can observe such phenomena without confusing them with the spiritual realities of being, and that, viewed in the light of Christian Science, these phenomena hint the actual reality.

It was further pointed out that pupils attend school not merely to accept statements given to them, but in order to become trained to think, to utilize the faculty of judgment; and that upon occasion they could with propriety express their own convictions regarding the subject under discussion without suffering in their rating at school. The latter statement brought forth the remark, "Oh, yes, our teacher has told us that what he is saying is not the last word on this subject, but it is just as far as they have been able to go up to now." It was then made clear that in dealing with such subjects pupils should guard against claiming that they know more than their teachers, that they should express their views with modesty, preserve a proper sense of the fitness of things, and duly recognize the authority of the teacher in the classroom.

The results have been truly remarkable. Some of these young people have since distinguished themselves in their chosen lines of work. Valuable contributions in the field of research have been made, and widely acknowledged. Good results have been most marked where pupils have made Christian Science first in their consideration, and have taken steps at the right time to join a branch church and The Mother Church.

There need be no fear for a nation whose people believe in God and in the value of man, and who know moral and spiritual values.—Rev. L. E. Kempton.

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