Idealism without faith or foundation in the facts of Spirit limps between two standpoints and eventually leads to what is called disillusionment, heartbreak, or cynicism. Some cling steadfastly to their ideals hoping that in some future state those ideals may be realized; others drop them as impractical and unattainable and reach that state of pessimism which says: "Only dreamers believe that there is a way out. Optimism is cowardice." But true idealism is vastly more than mere optimism. It comes of a practical understanding of the nature of God and man as perfect Principle and perfect idea, indivisible in cause and effect. On page 307 of her book "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mary Baker Eddy speaks of her mental struggle as she was "emerging from materia medica, dogma, and creeds" and says: "The fallacy of materia medica, its lack of science, and the want of divinity in scholastic theology, had already dawned on me. My idealism, however, limped, for then it lacked Science."

An idealism that limps! How well this describes the idealism of one who. not understanding the Science of Spirit, tries to progress with, as it were, one foot going in the way of matter and the other in the way of Spirit. He may have the highest of ideals, but he tries to realize them through the medium of matter. Is it any wonder that at times his efforts seem futile and his progress at best slow? Only he who bases his ideals on the oneness and allness of Spirit can progress uprightly and with joyous courage to the ultimate goal of the realism which is perfection.

On page 217 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says: "True idealism is a divine Science, which combines in logical sequence, nature, reason, and revelation. An effect without a cause is inconceivable; neither philosophy nor reason attempts to find one; but all should conceive and understand that Spirit cannot become less than Spirit; hence that the universe of God is spiritual,—even the ideal world whose cause is the self-created Principle, with which its ideal or phenomenon must correspond in quality and quantity." Here is the firm, clear highway of idealism over which nations as well as individuals can progress without limping. This idealism is realism of the most practical nature, because it reflects that which is—the omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, and omniaction of God.

A foundation for true idealism has been given by our Leader on page 207 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she says: "The spiritual reality is the scientific fact in all things. The spiritual fact, repeated in the action of man and the whole universe, is harmonious and is the ideal of Truth." Then in order to have a foundation for scientific idealism there must be an understanding of Truth, of spiritual facts. That scientific idealist, Christ Jesus, revealed these spiritual facts and demonstrated the power of an understanding of them. His idealism was one with divine realism and therefore with omnipotence. And did he not say, "He that believeth on me [accepts my ideals], the works that I do shall he do also"? When nations and individuals accept this statement of Jesus in its literal promise and—as did he—have one God. one power, and that good. Spirit untainted and unlimited by what is called matter, they will no longer scoff at ideals as impractical and impotent; neither will they fear to uphold them in the face of all resistance.

An ideal which is one with spiritual facts is imbued with divine power. That nation whose idealism is based on justice, freedom, and brotherly love, whose values are spiritual rather than material, whose aims are intelligent service rather than aggression, whose citizens learn of this evaluation through education and example— that nation has allied itself with deific power, and finds itself protected by omnipotence. Its idealism does not limp between two standards, one matter and one Spirit. How shall any nation learn of this idealism? Only through its individual citizens.

An individual is not separate from his ideals; so a scientific idealist may—by his daily living— help the nations to see "what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, ... far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion" (Eph. 1:19, 21). Each one of us may put aside the idealism that limps and walk uprightly in the path of spiritual understanding, having one power, one substance, one intelligence, one infinite God who is Love. It is a way of simplicity, even the simplicity of the Christ, which knows and declares the unreality or nonexistence of evil, and the reality, the allness, of good. The scientific idealist is quick to detect the claims of evil, to refuse them power or identity. As he refuses them identity, he robs them of their claim to power and walks fearlessly with his ideals, knowing them to be of God.

Scientific idealism is practical realism. There we have

Then let us not find our idealism limping because we have two bases of thought, one material and one spiritual. When our ideals become one with spiritual facts, then through spiritual understanding they will be seen as reality. God's radiant goodness will become the government and glory of our living. We shall find the kingdom of heaven within and manifest the "wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might" that belong to Spirit.

Margaret Morrison