A Little boy was ill during the night. His parents made him comfortable and talked to him of God. Soon he went back to sleep. When he awakened in the morning his mother offered to assist him in getting up, but he quickly said, "Mummie, don't make pictures on me." He was completely healed.

This little boy had learned at home and in the Christian Science Sunday School that whatever is not good is not of God, but is only a picture of mortal mind. He had also learned that man, in the image and likeness of God, knows nothing of the pictures of disease, pain, fear, or inharmony. He accepted his healing when his parents declared the truth to him, and he did not expect or experience any after-affect of weakness or apathy. His alertness and expectancy of good dispelled the dream.

The Master, Christ Jesus, declared, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." We know that "the prince of this world," mortal mind, is a pretender, without power, authority, or kingdom. Jesus demonstrated that man comes forth from God, is ever the recipient of the Father's loving-kindness, and is never deceived by the mortal misconception of existence. He proved his immunity to the suggestions of physicality while in the wilderness. There the devil attempted to induce him to misuse his power and to accept worldly wealth and prestige, but the Way-shower finally and definitely put these temptations behind him with the affirmation, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." .

Man is ever God's expression, the complete and harmonious image and likeness of the loving Father-Mother. A fallen or imperfect man is merely mortal mind's misconception. Christian Science treatment is the realization of the falsity of this misconception through the acceptance of man's legitimate, spiritual identity.

A Christian Scientist who experienced a painful but not serious injury prayed for some time for release from pain, but there was no improvement. Within a short time he realized that he was praying for a bettered material condition, and that the remedy was to turn from error's discordant pictures and to realize man's unity with God. When he did, the pain and chills ceased. He was healed. Not even a scar or any soreness remained.

Since the dream of mortal mind has never been any part of man, there can be no reminder of its illusions for him who realizes his spiritual sonship. This explains why those becoming interested in Christian Science frequently receive instantaneous healings of what had seemed chronic difficulties. The Psalmist said, "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him."

Christian Scientists are grateful that Mary Baker Eddy not only reveals the Godlike nature of man, but sets forth the advancing steps to be taken in the acceptance and demonstration of this truth. We find this procedure in what she terms the "Scientific Translation of Mortal Mind," on pages 115and 116 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Our Leader first gives the material concept of man, with all its false beliefs. She then shows the stage in which evil or physical beliefs begin to disappear. And finally she lists the third degree, wherein the spiritual qualities of reality are attained. She adds, "In the third degree mortal mind disappears, and man as God's image appears."

As we prayerfully study this "scientific translation," we perceive that we cannot demonstrate the third degree, "Wisdom, purity, spiritual understanding, spiritual power, love, health, holiness," without proving the second degree or moral qualities, "Humanity, honesty, affection, compassion, hope, faith, meekness, temperance." These transitional qualities are not a goal, but are, to the human concept, a ladder mounting heavenward. They were marked in our Master's ministry. Since each earnest Christian Scientist is a disciple of Christ Jesus, let us prayerfully seek a higher and more understanding regard for these qualities.

Humanity is loving consideration for one another. It embraces all, and excludes none. Its ministry is marked with joy, tenderness, and self-immolation. It exchanges the poverty of finite sense for the riches of divine sonship. It removes the tatters of selfishness and bestows the garment of brotherly love. It silences the testimony of mortal mind and speaks in the language of Spirit. It penetrates that which would obscure, and arouses the dormant desire for good. Humanity is born of prayer and bespeaks an understanding heart.

Honesty is the constant companion of humanity, and denotes adherence to Principle. It is a compass which guides its possessor. The false attractions of human existence can cause no deviation in its heavenward directing. It inculcates obedience and patience. It controls the unruly tongue, the impulsive nature, and the disturbed thought. It awakens gratitude, for it ever bears witness to a right standard.

True affection includes the tender care which nourishes and protects the unfolding beauty of spiritual manhood. Its devotion is marked by simplicity and constancy. It calls no attention to self, but places the hand of its brother in God's keeping. Affection leads to the establishment of heaven on earth.

Compassion ministers to the human needs of men, and leads them to man's home—spiritual consciousness. It never recognizes mortal mind's pretensions of power, and sympathetically gives proof of the perfect and eternal. It takes the longer look, removes all that would separate, and is ever active in good works. Compassion is Christian helpfulness.

Hope is grateful expectancy of good. It is confident trust in Love's beneficence. It lights the darkness of error with renewed desire. It opens the door toward heaven and assures the pilgrim that all is well. Truly, hope is Love's handmaid.

Faith is hope in action. It grows with use, and ripens into understanding. It beholds far more than the physical senses discern. It may be likened to a blueprint or working plan, for it underlies all accomplishment. Its labors are marked with the melody of love and joy. It is never disturbed by discord, fear, or ignorance, for peace and confidence attend its prayerful acts. Faith is obedience to the will of God.

Meekness includes gentleness and the healing grace of mercy, by which the power of good flows into individual experience. It nourishes the flowers of contentment, abundance, justice, power, and loving consideration. It is exhaustless, for its fountain is inspiration. Meekness is the inheritance of God's children.

Temperance is a regulator, doing the right thing at the right time in the right way. It is more than abstinence from evil; it exercises self-control. It gives appreciation and efficacy. It does not outline, but prepares for and awaits Mind's directing. Temperance opens the way to the discernment of divine law.

These moral qualities are a passport to reality. They transform, elevate, and beautify human existence. The pictures of material sense are quickly dissipated by their penetrating enlightenment.

Mankind desires freedom from war, ignorance, fear, sin, disease, and death, and the coming of this freedom can be greatly aided by the loving ministry of the spiritually-minded, those who understand the true nature of the conflict and let their light be seen of men. You and I may be students of Christian Science because someone let his light shine and gently led us along the heavenward path. Have you ever considered how many are blessing us by their ministry in the home, the church, the community?

Each day we discern reality more clearly, we know our Father-Mother more intimately. Why? Because we have found the Science that reveals our true selfhood to be the sons of God.

Copyright, 1944, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston 15, 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. Published every Saturday