The brief and unequivocal command of the Founder of Christianity to his followers, "Heal the sick," will be fully satisfied only when obedience thereto has annihilated, with the Christ-idea of Life, all sickness from the world. None of it originates with God. All of it can be abolished through, an understanding of God, His man, and His law. To bring to men this understanding and its healing power is the mission of Christian Science. The profession of a Christian Science practitioner, as one regularly engaged in healing the sick through an understanding of God, is now almost universally recognized as a high and worthy calling. It is acknowledged by the laws of many states and some nations.

Closely associated with the practitioner in this healing ministry is the Christian Science nurse, who fills an essential role in aiding the recovery of the sick. Many are those who recognize the debt of gratitude they owe to the patient, wise, and loving assistance of the young man or woman whose ministration helped to encourage, support, and make easier the way out of the wilderness of mental or physical woe to that higher sense of life where health is natural and affliction is found to be neither person, place, nor thing.

The vocation of a Christian Science nurse demands unselfed service based on love for God and man. Few vocations require so much self-surrender and deep, heartfelt willingness to give, and give, and give. Such a one must hourly exemplify the Master's statement, "I am among you as he that serveth," and must rejoice in the privilege that is his or hers to live and act the Golden Rule hour after hour and day after day.

Mindful of the vital place nurses have in the practice of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 31): "A member of The Mother Church who represents himself or herself as a Christian Science nurse shall be one who has a demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science practice, who thoroughly understands the practical wisdom necessary in a sick room, and who can take proper care of the sick." And in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 395) she writes, "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith,—receptive to Truth and Love."

The Christian Science Benevolent Associations in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California, have carefully planned courses of instruction for qualified young men and women from all parts of the world who desire to follow this noble vocation of service. These courses cover a three-year period, and are intended to equip the individual with "the practical wisdom necessary in a sick room" and qualify him to "take proper care of the sick." Full information concerning these courses may be obtained from either of these institutions by those who are considering applying for enrollment. More well-qualified workers are needed in this Christian ministry.

Honest appreciation of our nurses and the constructive work they are doing is due from practitioners, patients, and all Christian Scientists. They live modestly, work untiringly, and serve faithfully. Their daily compensation is less than that of a capable carpenter. They are entitled to live with the normal sense of comfort and dignity that befits their high calling, and honest recognition of this will help those in need of their services to find the supply which God provides to meet every legitimate human need.

One of our Leader's contemporaries in the field of human betterment was Florence Nightingale, who probably did more than any other one person to elevate the nurse's calling to the place of recognition and appreciation which it richly deserves. Born in Florence, Italy, she was later educated and made her home in England, where she was undaunted in her efforts to improve facilities for the care of the sick. In the Crimean War she gained distinction for her tireless attention to those in need. Mrs. Eddy, under the marginal heading, "Benefit of philanthropy," draws attention to the fatigues and exposures this humanitarian endured without sinking, and then, under the heading, "Honest toil has no penalty" (Science and Health, p. 385), draws the important conclusion that such toil and deprivations can be undergone without penalty, for "whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself."

Florence Nightingale once wrote, "A wise man says that true knowledge of anything ... can only be gained by a true love of the ideal in it." The first essential to a knowledge of the art of nursing is "a true love for the ideal in it." Christian Science instills in the thought of its followers the ideal of unselfed service. It shows the individual that the only true and rational purpose of his existence is so to live and work as to reflect the love of God and His healing Christ to those in need.

The niche that each individual has to fill in time and eternity the all-wise, all-loving Mind can be depended upon to make plain, if we are humbly willing to turn from selfish ambition, and let our life purpose be to fill our God-appointed place in the harvest field of Soul, enlisted to help break every bond of wickedness and let the oppressed go free. The Lord of the harvest will never fail to provide wisely and well the laborers needed, for the harvest, as Jesus reminded us, is "his harvest." His purpose He fulfills.

Paul Stark Seeley