There is a tradition that Pontius Pilate was ever a dabbler in philosophy, and that even before the tragic day when Jesus of Nazareth stood before him there often fell from his lips the now famous query, "What is truth?" How sad, then, is the picture drawn in John's Gospel of Pilate putting this question to Jesus and not remaining to hear the answer! Here was the one man in all history who could have most clearly defined truth; in fact the Master's whole human experience may be said to have exemplified the truth about God and His expression, man.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy, that great latter-day expositor of Truth, has written (p. 49): "The women at the cross could have answered Pilate's question. They knew what had inspired their devotion, winged their faith, opened the eyes of their understanding, healed the sick, cast out evil, and caused the disciples to say to their Master: 'Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.'"

Children reared in homes of Christian Scientists early learn to seek truth in the pages of the Bible and Science and Health, and find there the answers to their problems. For example, one little lad, if he feels ill, will promptly bring the two precious volumes to his mother, demanding that she speedily read to him from the "truth books." What a fitting title for these spiritual evangels! The Holy Bible is the great treasure house of truth; and the Christian Science textbook, as its name implies, is the spiritual "key" which unlocks, makes practical, those truths which are for "the healing of the nations."

The first statement one finds on the flyleaf of Science and Health is the Master's oft-quoted declaration (John 8:2), "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." And on the second page of the Preface, our Leader writes, "The question, What is Truth, is answered by demonstration,—by healing both disease and sin; and this demonstration shows that Christian healing confers the most health and makes the best men."

If one would define truth, therefore, he must first learn in Science the nature of the great First Cause, or God. In the song of Moses, recorded in the thirtysecond chapter of Deuteronomy, we find this clear-cut declaration about the heavenly Father: "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." One of the seven synonymous terms used by Mrs. Eddy in her definition of God is Truth; and in her reference to Deity, the word "Truth" is always capitalized.

Now what are the attributes or qualities of Truth? Certainly, God as Truth must possess immortality, for can Truth have beginning or ending? Truth must be synonymous with light, for does not any truth, like light, always dispel its opposite, error and darkness? Certainly one cannot conceive of Truth without law, justice, and power. And does not the law of Truth inevitably connote harmony? Discord bespeaks that which is lawless, evanescent, and therefore powerless, unreal.

Truth, the author of light, harmony, law, and power, naturally becomes the term with which Mrs. Eddy associates the healing Christ. Again and again she speaks of the Christ, Truth, and rightly so, for does not Christ signify the saving power of God? Truth is eternally busy saving from all lies. With what courage and conviction, then, does the Scientist face a problem of sickness, sin, or any phase of discord, when he is armed with a consciousness of the invincible Christ, Truth!

Hear this inspirational statement from Science and Health (p. 230): "If sickness is real, it belongs to immortality; if true, it is a part of Truth. Would you attempt with drugs, or without, to destroy a quality or condition of Truth? But if sickness and sin are illusions, the awakening from this mortal dream, or illusion, will bring us into health, holiness, and immortality." Then follows this revealing declaration: "This awakening is the forever coming of Christ, the advanced appearing of Truth, which casts out error and heals the sick."

A sufferer from what his attending physicians had called rheumatism, once sought out a Christian Scientist and asked for help. In the course of his talk with the patient, the Scientist made this statement: "You know, if it is true that you have rheumatism, then there is no such thing in the universe as an infinitely good and just God." The patient left in mild dismay. "Why, I know I have rheumatism!" he declared aloud. Then he found himself pursuing the Scientist's argument: "But if it is true, there is no good God; and there must be a good God." Then he would come to the logical conclusion: "And if there is a good God, man can have no rheumatism." Fainter and fainter became the mortal mind rejoinders, "But you know you have rheumatism," and stronger and stronger were the affirmations of truth, that the image of a good God had no rheumatism; and when he presented himself to his helper in Science a few weeks later, the discordant picture had completely vanished. The Christ, Truth, had made him free: or to state it more accurately, the Christ, the understanding of Truth-with-us, revealed and demonstrated the fact that the disease was not true, not happening in God's harmonious universe, and that God's man is eternally free.

How naturally, instinctively, does the student of Christian Science declare, in the presence of accident, discord, or disease, "It's a lie!" When he learns that harmony alone is real and true, he rejects promptly and decisively every suggestion which proceeds from ignorance of God, Truth. And what has happened when the discordant picture has been replaced by a happier, more harmonious sense of things? He has answered Pilate's question; he has proved—possibly in small measure, but verily he has proved —that sickness, inharmony, discord of every name and nature proceed not from divine Truth, and therefore are the illusory figments of the carnal mind.

And his has been the joyous proof that the Christ, Truth, which enabled our great Way-shower centuries ago to declare and demonstrate that the kingdom of harmony is at hand—that same Christ-consciousness is present at this hour, this moment, for the redemption of all mankind.

John Randall Dunn