Recently writers, orators, and organizations have been stressing the importance of the Bill of Rights. That is proper, and should make us more appreciative of our great individual and national freedom. However, we must never forget that these rights have come down to us because men and women from the highest sense of duty have been willing to sacrifice material things, even life itself, that these precious rights should be our heritage. Neither should we forget that unless we as a nation so conduct ourselves as to deserve them we shall lose them.

It seems far more important to the writer to lay stress upon what might be termed a "Bill of Duties." Our young men are performing prodigious feats of valor on sea and land, and in the air. A large percentage of our population is devoting itself with unparalleled energy to the production of war material. Nevertheless, too many people are entirely unmindful of their obligations to the nation and to the men who are making the sacrifices on the fighting fronts. Too many are concerned with what they can get, rather than with what they can give.

There must be a co-ordinated effort to bring to the mind of all our people the fact that the price of liberty entails the duty of placing the welfare of the nation before any selfish interest, of upholding the sanctity of those institutions which make our nation great, the church and the home, and of practicing the virtues of thrift, honesty, and a spirit of fair play.

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" is a maxim equally applicable to spiritual and political freedom. Christian Scientists can through their mental work aid in awakening the individuals who compose our nation to a proper sense of their duty. They can know and realize that in its highest sense duty is the maintenance in thought of man's right relationship to God.

A study of the views of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, on this subject will bring rich reward. It will invigorate and energize the dynamic quality of our work both for our Cause and for our nation. She has much to say and she says it emphatically. Take these words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 496): "You will learn that in Christian Science the first duty is to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself."

In our Church Manual the word "duty" occurs thirty-six times. Article VIII, Section 4, states our duty regarding the beautiful "Daily Prayer" she has given to Christian Scientists. Section 6 of the same Article prescribes our duty in the use of the powerful protective prayers for our defense against evil. Section 14 sets the standard of our duty toward the periodicals of our Church.

In the chapter entitled "Marriage" in Science and Health, and in the article entitled "Wedlock" in her book "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy deals with the reciprocal duties owed to each other by man and wife. The importance of maintaining the sacredness of the relation upon which in so large a measure rests the perpetuity of our civilization, is dealt with lovingly and adequately.

On the subject of healing, Mrs. Eddy's followers are given a ringing command in the words on page 37 of Science and Health: "It is possible,—yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman,—to follow in some decree the example of the Master by the demonstration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness. Christians claim to be his followers, but do they follow him in the way that he commanded? Hear these imperative commands: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect!' 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature!''Heal the sick!'"

The Bible constantly sets forth the duties of man toward his creator and his fellow man. These are summed up by the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes where he says, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Mrs. Eddy interprets this text (Science and Health, p. 340): "In other words: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: love God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole of man in His image and likeness."

Following the citations of the word "duty" in the Concordances will furnish inspiration for renewed and more energetic efforts to perform our duty to God, our Leader, and mankind. Through faithful performance of spiritual duties the student will come into a clearer realization of his relationship to God, and will become increasingly conscious of the manifestation of divine power in human affairs.

Mrs. Eddy has enjoined upon her followers a duty which is especially applicable at the present time. On page 14 of "Christian Science versus Pantheism," under the heading "Prayer for Country and Church," is set forth a prayer so comprehensive and impersonal in its nature that every citizen, regardless of his economic or political views, should consider it his duty to obey its spirit daily. She admonishes us: "Pray for the prosperity of our country, and for her victory under arms; that justice, mercy, and peace continue to characterize her government, and that they shall rule all nations. Pray that the divine presence may still guide and bless our chief magistrate, those associated with his executive trust, and our national judiciary; give to our congress wisdom, and uphold our nation with the right arm of His righteousness."

A Christian Scientist will courageously maintain the inalienable rights which are man's birthright, and in this way will not fail in obedience to the By-Law (Manual, Art. VIII. Sect. 6), "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church" to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God to his Leader, and to mankind."