In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," its author, Mary Baker Eddy, gives, in what has come to be known as the trial scene (pp. 430—442), a keen and penetrating expose of mortal mind's machinations, and shows the way for individual release from their suggested penalty through the admission of true testimony. Herein she indicates how even the procedure and terminology of human law, rightly interpreted, provide for the defense of mankind against its one enemy, supposititious evil.

In legal hearings an alibi signifies an important plea for the defendant; it is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "the plea of having been elsewhere at the time when any alleged act took place." In what way may establishing an alibi help us in the practice of Christian Science? It is the plea to be put forward each time a lying claim that man is composed of matter, "of the earth, earthy," or dwells in and dies out of matter, is presented for our acceptance. And what is our alibi to the open or whispered accusations of mortal mind? The fact that man is a compound idea or embodiment of the incorporeal ideas of the divine Mind and dwells forever in this eternal Mind, not in matter.

The first chapter of Genesis provides the correct account of the conception of man, and upon this account one must base his plea that when the alleged act of living in matter or dwelling in matter was supposed to have taken place he was elsewhere, dwelling in the bosom of the Father, Spirit, in whom there is no matter. Our Father is Life; therefore His children are not tainted with any element of death or destruction. Matter and materiality must cease their false claim that they condition, surround, or destroy man.

Man, the object of God's ever-present, all-wise, and loving care, subject to nothingness—what an accusation! Yet this accusation is being made every moment by the "father of lies"; and as often as it is made we must proclaim our innocence. Mrs. Eddy indicates on page 418 of Science and Health, under the marginal heading "Christian pleading," the manner in which we should conduct our defense: "Stick to the truth of being in contradistinction to the error that life, substance, or intelligence can be in matter. Plead with an honest conviction of truth and a clear perception of the unchanging, unerring, and certain effect of divine Science." The truth is that man is the child of the Almighty; the male and female of God's creating; the image and likeness of his perfect, harmonious Father-Mother, living in the allness of Spirit and subject to God alone.

The statement in the ninetieth Psalm, attributed to Moses, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations," is the simplest, yet most profound alibi that one can produce to confound the lie that man lives in matter. Man has never been, is not now, and can never be in matter. Matter claims to be universally present with us, but, remembering Moses' words, we can reject this falsity, because we know that God, who is Spirit, Love, is always omnipresent.

If a false statement were made about one's human character or activities, one would immediately produce testimony or proof of innocence. Let us be as prompt in refuting the lying libels made about man by mortal mind. A few libelous suggestions are that man is disagreeable, overbearing, sick, critical, bad tempered, ineffectual, a failure, dying. Some of these allegations are made so frequently that one may be tempted to regard them as true. But the positive proof is always at hand that they are lies about man. God made man in His own image and likeness.

Nothing in heaven or earth has changed or can change this fact, because the unchanging God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, from everlasting to everlasting. He has not recreated man as something less than His likeness, nor has He allowed some other power to create man. "In his own image... created he him" is the emphatic declaration in the first chapter of Genesis.

Christian Science, the counsel for Mortal Man in the trial scene already referred to, states (p. 441), "Our law refuses to recognize Man as sick or dying, but holds him to be forever in the image and likeness of his Maker." This law supports freedom, health, and joy for man. In this allegorical trial, Mortal Man is accused of having committed liver complaint whilst engaged in doing good. He is accused by Personal Sense, testified against by Health-laws, and condemned to death by Judge Medicine. Christian Science is then called in as counsel, and the case is taken to the Court of Spirit, where Mortal Man is found not guilty. Christian Science in pleading for the unfortunate prisoner utters the following striking words on page 434: "All the testimony has been on the side of Personal Sense, and we shall unearth this foul conspiracy against the liberty and life of Man. The only valid testimony in the case shows the alleged crime never to have been committed."

There is healing in this dramatic account. A student of Christian Science once seemed to be suffering from liver complaint, and had been put to bed. That afternoon, when her mother returned, she mentioned that one of the Christian Scientists with whom she had been had remarked that it is mortal mind which jibs at reading the trial scene. The patient, who had begun reading it, asked that it be read aloud to her right to the end. By the time the reading of the chapter was completed, she was well. She arose, dressed, and was able to keep an appointment, which she felt at first she would have to cancel. Since then this student has felt an affection for this particular portion of the textbook, and enjoys reading what before she had been inclined to pass over.

These words from one of our hymns establish for each one of us the perfect alibi by revealing our forever home (Hymnal, No. 66):