In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy includes in her answer to the question, "What is substance?" these statements (p. 468): "Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay. Truth, Life, and Love are substance, as the Scriptures use this word in Hebrews: The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.'"

A dictionary defines "substance" in part as "ultimate reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change."

Mankind has long considered substance to be material. It has considered money, stocks, bonds, possessions, and so forth, things which are perishable and give no promise of permanence, to be substance. But dependence on these things for happiness has brought with it a fear that they might be lost in the exigencies of human experience.

With the advent of Christian Science, however, a new concept of substance began to appear. It has been proved many times by students of this Science that Spirit is substance and that in reality supply consists of spiritual ideas and qualities at work in human consciousness, ideas and qualities which are "eternal and incapable of discord and decay."

Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307), "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." A Christian Scientist saw a practical example of this statement in her experience as a church member. When she was appointed treasurer, her branch church was in a chronic state of lack. This condition had been going on for some time, and the members had not been able to remedy it. The Readers sometimes served for months without pay.

When she took over as the new treasurer, she was told by the board to pay the outside bills, such as rent, fuel, and all the bills that would keep the church's credit good in the community, and then, if there was any monev left over, to make partial payments on other bills, such as salaries, and so forth.

As this went on, month after month, the treasurer became very unhappy over the whole situation. She realized that she would either have to resign as treasurer or gain a right sense of supply, in other words, see more clearly what true substance is.

Because she loved the church so dearly, she prayed earnestly for light, and a great sense of happiness and willingness to serve came to her. She denied the oft-repeated statement that the church congregation was made up of people of limited means, and she endeavored to understand more of the teaching of Christian Science that man is God's child, having by reflection all of God's qualities. Man, therefore, cannot possibly know or experience lack.

Each month as she wrote checks to pay for legitimate needs she thanked God for the supply that was evident, even though it seemed insufficient. She was mentally down on her knees, saying, "Thank You, God, for these tokens of abundance." She gave thanks humbly and gratefully for all the church members contributed. Each check was mailed with deep and joyous confidence. She ceased to feel burdened. With a song in her heart, she fulfilled her duties.

Gradually, almost imperceptibly at first, the financial situation began to change, and before long the church was out of debt. The members went steadily forward from there, purchased a piece of property, and before long built their own church. So here was tangible proof that substance is spiritual. Willingness, joy, appreciation, wisdom, resourcefulness are a few of the qualities expressed by the church members. As these fundamental spiritual qualities became ever more evident to the members, the sense of limitation fell away.

In the fourteenth chapter of Matthew there is an account of the feeding of a multitude by Christ Jesus. We read: "He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."

Though the supply seemed inadequate to meet the need, he knew that there was enough and more. He started with what he had and gave thanks for it. His thought was so filled with purity and love that there was no room for a belief of insufficiency. The account continues, "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full."

Sometimes it is a wholesome thing to ask oneself: "What am I cherishing in my mental household? Am I seeing man as he really is, as God's beloved child, reflecting all the divine qualities, including abundance? Am I willing to do this?" If love for God and man is our incentive, then dark beliefs of lack find no foothold.

In Science and Health in the chapter on Prayer we read (p. 3): "Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more."

Gratitude is a marvelous opener of doors into a better experience.