Liberty is naturally dear to everyone, especially to those who have been reared and educated in a democratic country. We are all given opportunities to make use of the spiritual understanding we have gained through a study of Christian Science. The times make it imperative to use what we know of Truth and thus to prove our immunity from the besetments of evil. The student of Science who is drafted into the armed forces need not shrink from the task that lies ahead. His primary concern is to recognize that he is in the service of God and that God is the great commander; thus he must be watchful to obey his commander in every detail. He must also be true to the voice of conscience and never lower his standard of moral integrity, which he has learned through the study of the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy.

Once he is aware that God, divine Love, controls his experience, he will have no fear, wherever he may he assigned. His experience in the forces will give him many glorious opportunities to prove the truth of Christian Science. His first duty is to obey God, and his second duty is to follow the Golden Rule of doing to others as he would have them do to him.

Perhaps a student has been a pupil in the Christian Science Sunday School. If so, he has already received a spiritual equipment in the priceless teachings of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy writes (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 251), "What God gives, elucidates, armors, and tests in His service, is ours."

Once it is established that the primary purpose of the student is to be active in the service of God and man, he is not backward in putting on his spiritual equipment. Having seen the importance of serving God and knowing he is equipped to do so, he can then go forward to learn something of true service. This service is a voluntary act, as is clear from a study of Mrs. Eddy's words on page 450 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she writes, "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good."

The young student of Christian Science has now seen the necessity of service to God and man. He is equipped to take his place in the world as a Christian Scientist, and he has enlisted to lessen evil in all its forms.

What are the foes he must combat? They are errors of thought and action. The Apostle Paul writes in his epistle to the Ephesians (6:12), "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." These foes are not only outward, but inward also. The student may detect a lurking self-pity, a dislike for a comrade, or a disinclination to obey a military order. In his work as a soldier he must "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). Insubordination to properly constituted authority does not indicate subordination to God. Therefore obedience, punctuality, and conscientious attention to duty will naturally mark the soldier of Christ.

A newly enlisted recruit is quickly instructed in the use of material weapons. The Christian Scientist recognizes the need to be instructed in the use of his spiritual understanding in an effective way. He knows that he must study his order books—his Bible and the Christian Science textbook—for these give him instructions as to what he should do in any circumstance; and he need only reach out to God in prayer in order to find through these books the answer to his problem.

If efficiency is to be maintained in the armed services, it is clear that strict discipline must be enforced. The young student should not, therefore, resist such discipline, but strive to understand the subject of discipline from a higher standpoint. The word discipline is akin to disciple, and this indicates that the true discipline is found in obedience to the law of Love.

In football or baseball every member of a team works for the whole and forgets self-interest in doing so. We remember how hard we worked for our side at school, and how we gloried in its victory. What would be thought of a football player who, in the middle of a game, decided that he would not play with the others and refused to take orders from his captain? He might be a considerable factor in the downfall of the side. We recollect Paul's words to the Christians in Rome (Rom. 12:5), "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

We each have an opportunity of lessening the discord convulsing the world, and whether one is called to serve in the armed forces, in the combat zone, in a factory, or in other work, the need of spiritual obedience and watchfulness is equally necessary. No one is insignificant in this warfare against evil. The most effective workers are those who understand the allness of good and the nothingness of evil and are serving God in good measure in their daily lives.

ROBERT ELLIS KEY