"One truth discovered is immortal, and entitles its author to be so," wrote Hazlitt in "The Spirit of the Age." Not the discovery of one truth alone, but the discovery of the truth about all Truth was Mary Baker Eddy's contribution to this and every future age. On page 504 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she writes, "The rays of infinite Truth, when gathered into the focus of ideas, bring light instantaneously, whereas a thousand years of human doctrines, hypotheses, and vague conjectures emit no such effulgence."

The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, by perceiving God's and therefore Spirit's allness, perceived also logically and scientifically the nothingness of matter. By setting forth her discovery in its scientific application to every problem which besets mankind, she showed the false premise and conclusion of those "human doctrines, hypotheses, and vague conjectures" with which every phase of religious, medical, political, and intellectual teaching has been weakened and undermined. In this focus of ideas, whence all light radiates, there is perceived complete and perfect co-ordination and adjustment of each to all; the harmonious relationship of every idea in the universal plan is seen outlined, illumined, governed by divine Principle.

The individual may not appear to himself to be embarking upon any important or exciting voyage of discovery, to be traveling over hitherto unexplored lands, or sailing upon hitherto uncharted seas. Indeed, his way may appear to be anything but thrilling and eventful. Nevertheless, every day there are discoveries of enormous and far-reaching significance to be made; every day there are opportunities of the greatest magnitude, bringing him, as the result of vigilance, observation, and communion, ever more and more within that divine focus which means instantaneous light. If he permits himself to ignore them and to remain weighted with the burden of scholasticism, impressed and confused by the doctrines and negative theories which throw shadows and obstructions along his path, then his vision will continue to be dim, his traveling dangerous and experimental, the results of his labors unrewarding.

Many of the Jews, skeptical and curious, who gathered about Jesus were attracted against their wills to this Teacher, who offered them an alternative to their doctrines and traditions, which shed so little light upon their lives. The light of Light was in their midst; nevertheless blind and bitter resistance continued to shut it out, causing contradiction, misunderstanding, unbelief. "Then said Jesus to them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." Many centuries later there was to be revealed to Mrs. Eddy this concept of man, no longer fallen, but exalted; no longer ignorant and afar-off, but one with God, knowing and known of Him; the divine reflection of the infinite, the beloved of the Father; the eternal emanation of His purpose and fulfillment.

In "Retrospection and Introspection" Mrs. Eddy has devoted a chapter entitled "The Great Discovery" (p. 24), to an account of that which led up to and that which resulted from her own healing, bringing with it the proof she had been seeking for so many years—that all causation is mental.

Every least discovery of Truth has its related place, its incalculably important part to play in the history of humanity. But this discovery, when fully understood, was to revolutionize the whole thought of the world. This Science was to reveal Christianity in all its completeness, to authenticate and establish its Principle and rules. It was to offer, to all who were humble-minded and pure of heart, deliverance from evil of whatever kind, the assurance of spiritual dominion, the immediate ever-present availability of God's law, imparting wisdom and love.

As the result of Mrs. Eddy's discovery thousands have made it their discovery also, and in doing so have realized what they owe to the pioneer of research and analysis who went before them, authenticating every statement she made by "signs following." With our own individual discovery of what Christian Science means to us—means to the world—there must come the responsibility of living the truths thus revealed in such a way that all men will be awakened to discover them and live them also. To each must come the recognition and the adoption of the laws emanating from divine Principle which we have been shown are operative on our behalf, so that all shadowy speculations and twilight theories may be replaced with the full light of Truth. Our duty, our responsibility, is not only to ourselves; it is to all men. In evidence of our practical gratitude we shall be found obeying her call to us, as set forth on page 120 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," "Bear with me the burden of discovery and share with me the bliss of seeing the risen Christ, God's spiritual idea that takes away all sin, disease, and death, and gives to soul its native freedom."

Evelyn F. Heywood