The world in general little realizes what a stabilizing influence is Christian Science in tens of thousands of homes today. Many are the households which are being preserved intact, and erstwhile impossible relationships bravely endured, or bettered, because of the sustaining power of divine Truth, as taught in Christian Science.

What a blessing to the whole human family is that grand chapter entitled "Marriage" in Mary Baker Eddy's "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"! How many matrimonial barks would be saved from shipwreck, if the wise, loving counsel in these pages were heeded! Hear these challenging statements from this chapter (p. 65): "If the foundations of human affection are consistent with progress, they will be strong and enduring. Divorces should warn the age of some fundamental error in the marriage state. The union of the sexes suffers fearful discord. To gain Christian Science and its harmony, life should be more metaphysically regarded." Then a little farther along we read, "Matrimony, which was once a fixed fact among us must lose its present slippery footing, and man must find permanence and peace in a more spiritual adherence." Fortunate and safe indeed are the young men and women who, contemplating marriage, are willing to read together and prayerfully ponder the teachings of this remarkable chapter.

If an individual contemplates a pleasure trip and seeks an agreeable companion therefor, whom is he likely to choose? If wise, his choice will not be one who does not speak his language, or one whose tastes are widely dissimilar. If the journey promises to be lengthy, even greater care will be exercised, lest the harmony of the enterprise be jeopardized. Is it not surprising, therefore, that two persons with a so called life's journey before them, should so often set forth with such woeful unpreparedness? One of the partners may have a background of singular clean mindedness, while the other may be a victim of licentious thinking. One natively turns to the finer, 'more spiritual aspects of life, while the other finds satisfaction only in material aims and pursuits. One likes good books, good music; the other is bored therewith. And the amazing thing is that these two individuals, having no other bond save the mesmerism of mortal mind infatuation, will set sail on the treacherous seas of human experience, vainly expecting a life voyage of flawless harmony!

Many may recall the amusing lines in a popular play of a decade or two ago, when a woman was asked why she had allowed herself to be led into a marriage which had proved very unfortunate. "Well," she replied, "we were stranded in that little town, and it rained all week!" Amusing, yes; but sad also. And sad too for the young people of our time who under the mesmeric urge of war hysteria make the vows of "until death do us part" with little more than a speaking acquaintance with each other.

Now Christian Science brings sanity, the light of reason, to those whose vision has been darkened by sex mesmerism. It enables one to distinguish between enduring affection and the will-o'-the-wisps of fleeting infatuation. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 250) our discerning Leader writes: "Mortals misrepresent and miscall affection; they make it what it is not, and doubt what it is. The so called affection pursuing its victim is a butcher fattening the lamb to slay it." Then in the next paragraph she adds, "I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results." What sight is lovelier than the life journey of those who are friends before they are partners!

The Master called his disciples friends. Abraham was known as the friend of God. Is there in all language a happier designation than friend? The wise Benjamin Franklin once observed, "A Father's a Treasure; a Brother's a Comfort; a Friend is both." Christian Science is teaching mankind how to know friends, how to be friends, and how to keep friends, and thus ensure, married or unmarried, harmonious journeys from sense to Soul. The secret— it is a secret to the carnal mind— is to lift thought from the contemplation of existence as material to the recognition of real being, wherein true relationships are spiritual and joy bringing. Why? Because Mind, the divine Principle, Love, is the Father and Mother, and His children are His eternal, harmonious ideas.

Does God behold one of His sons as incomplete, companionless, unloved, lacking in any good gift? Never! "All that I have is thine," saith the all giving Love to His radiant offspring. Therefore, when you see a husband and wife walking hand in hand, each wedded first to Truth and Love, and each striving to reflect that divine friendship of Mind and idea, what a picture of God governed felicity is presented to a world saddened and disillusioned by so many marital failures!

Is it not the grand privilege of students of Christian Science to prove to humanity in these troublous days that happy homes, happy marriages, and enduring affection are possible? To this end, Mrs. Eddy, in her God inspired chapter on "Marriage" (p. 65), breathes this prayer: "May Christ, Truth, be present at every bridal altar to turn the water into wine and to give to human life an inspiration by which man's spiritual and eternal existence may be discerned."

John Randall Dunn