Loyalty takes on new meaning when one finds that the origin of the word "loyal" is from the Latin "lex, legis," meaning law. According to the revelation of Christian Science, man is held by spiritual law in the perpetual position of loyalty to his divine Principle— God. But man is not the mortal who often behaves insubordinately to God's demands, disobeying His laws and flouting His authority. The mortal represents only a false sense of manhood.

One of the first statements of the Bible is that "God created man in his own image" (Gen. 1:27). And this great Book of Life was written to show all mankind the unfoldment of the truth of that statement and its full demonstration as law by the Master, Christ Jesus. The knowledge of spiritual man, who is as incapable of departing from allegiance to his original as the image in a mirror is incapable of departing from faithfulness to the object before it is the basis for proving true loyalty.

Mary Baker Eddy mentions her loyal students on page 50 of "Retrospection and Introspection." And she says,—"By loyalty in students I mean this,—allegiance to God, subordination of the human to the divine, steadfast justice, and strict adherence to divine Truth and Love." Our Leader did not require loyalty to her personality, but to the truths of being, which she faithfully revealed. She adjured the members of her Church to follow her only so far as she followed Christ.

Those who recognize Mrs. Eddy's unique place as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science turn steadfastly to her as the Leader of the movement she established. They are willing to accept the form of government which she provided for the maintenance and continuation of this movement. They acknowledge the delegated authority she placed in the hands of duly elected officers. They subordinate human will and personal loyalty to the greater allegiance they owe to their Leader's plan of salvation, which is being carried out through her Church.

Loyalty to divine Principle develops power for the faithful, for it brings to light God's likeness, man, who reflects the Father's will in dominion over all the earth. To love Truth and to adhere to its mode of revelation is true wisdom, reflected wisdom, which is untainted by human will. The understanding that Love rules all demonstrates in the heart of the church member the operation of loyalty to what is right.

Mrs. Eddy says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 189), "The government of divine Love derives its omnipotence from the love it creates in the heart of man; for love is allegiant, and there is no loyalty apart from love." Love of God holds within itself the directive of wisdom and the strength of true loyalty.

It was the love of God that held Christ Jesus to his faithful course in his mission to mankind. His love was allegiant because he understood what he was loving. He loved the truth of perfect Father and perfect son, and he was willing to sacrifice the false sense, which testifies unjustly to contradictions of this truth. He found suffering bearable because he did not lose sight of his goal: the demonstration of God as Love and of man and the universe as perfect and as fully subordinate to Love's will.

In Gethsemane, the Master did not find it easy to face the experience that lay before him. But he was loyal to the mission God had set for him, and he destroyed the seeming forces of evil which tried to rob him of success in that mission. He prayed (Matt. 26:39), "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Obedience to the divine will was the characteristic that led the Master to final victory over the flesh. His obedience was demonstrated truth, the fact of man's loyalty to his governing Principle.

Often in human experience one is forced to choose between loyalty to what is right or loyalty to what is personal. Devotion to one's highest sense of right may require a turning away from much that one has cherished humanly. But no injustice can attend loyalty to God, and Love's law provides full recompense for every right step. No reward compares with that of the unveiling of God's man, forever allegiant to righteousness. Through Science, one learns that loyalty to Principle comes first; then human relationships fall into their proper perspective.

When scientific Christianity is more widely understood, all national and international projects will be governed by faithfulness to Principle. That an action is taken for the purpose of the good of all involved will be the reason for taking any step. Selfish objectives will not be considered. Loyalty to good will dominate all actions. Nations, as well as individuals, will know that "there is no loyalty apart from love."'

Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p.183): "Divine Mind rightly demands man's entire obedience, affection, and strength. No reservation is made for any lesser loyalty. Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength. Submission to error superinduces loss of power." In these clear-cut words our Leader points the way to a loyalty that finds its reward in man's demonstrated dominion over the earth.

Helen Wood Bauman