Letter Read to Association Meeting, London, England — 1928
by Bicknell Young
Students, in our work we Christian Scientists are constantly reminded of the fact that the man who said, “I can of mine own self do nothing” did more for mankind than has ever been done by all other men put together. Sincere and progressive students are endeavoring to emulate Jesus’ example, and, because of this impersonal scientific animus, meetings of this kind have an importance — a value incomparably greater than can be legitimately claimed for any other gatherings going on in the world today. I believe that far more is accomplished at such meetings than the participants are really aware of.
You are sometimes tempted to fear that you cannot attend the meetings. Some patient believes that he needs you, or fears that he may need you, or fears that he may need you just at this particular time, or perhaps some important business, professional work, some duty or necessity, even pleasure, threatens to interfere with your attending; and yet the need is met, the fear destroyed — and you do manage to attend. You come because you have discerned, and are claiming the dominion of that progressive understanding which neither comes nor goes, but which is, and that includes space, place and all other activity. You are thus demonstrating the metaphysical meaning of the words, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,…” (Ps. 37:23)
You know that these meetings were provided for by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in order that we might be strengthened in not only keeping abreast of the times, but in advance of the times. You do recognize that because we endeavor to surrender the belief of many minds to the fact of the one Mind, these gatherings are not ordinary events! They are epochs in the true history of Christian Science. Why is this so? Because here, undisturbed by conflicting or selfish desires, we stand for the realization, even the very presence, of the one infinite Mind. Here as it were, hand in hand we claim one supreme intelligence, that Mrs. Eddy defines in our textbook as, “omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.” (S&H 469:8-9)
Here then, let us be assured that we not only seek, but actually attain the enduring and true. So doing we should not limit ourselves in any way, and need not cling to the habit of trying with meticulous care to write down on paper our individual and collective discernment of the unfolding events of Infinity. Let all that is said here come to you as if it were your own, which in fact it is, then you will find no difficulty in retaining it. I hardly need to say that much depends upon what we bring to our annual Association Meeting, and it is to be observed that in this respect, as well as other important aspects, there is marked progress from year to year. It is unquestionably our mission to help each other, as well as mankind in general. To this end Christian Scientists must be united and organized. Organization to be of value must spring from unity of thought and purpose — preserved by that unselfish cooperation that alone is the visible evidence of the One Mind. Principle understood reveals the mental power as the “Messiah,” just as Mary Baker Eddy points out in Science and Health. This Messiah, or Christ — healing the sick and saving the sinner, is the rock upon which we build. From this same rock, the rock of Christian healing, sprang The Church of Christ, Scientist. Though a human organization, Christ, Truth, is its spiritual foundation, and this must continue to be stated — demonstrated in such a way as to dominate and control the human elements that constitute the visible church.
In establishing this church of works, Mrs. Eddy had no model or criterion by which to proceed. She was obliged to take steps to reverse them if necessary, and this is exactly what she did. She made two attempts before finally succeeding in founding The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in its present form. In the first two instances she proceeded under the law of the State of Massachusetts, and according to that law. She finally saw the wisdom of abandoning such attempts. “The Mother Church” therefore has no charter, and is not organized under the law of the State of Massachusetts, nor under any other human law. As an organization it is voluntary in the fullest sense of the word.
History shows that moral and religious sentiment is more powerful than human law, and that conviction founded upon adherence to Principle, is ultimately irresistible in human affairs. Therefore, “The Mother Church” in all of its activities, and ramifications — stands impregnable today (1928), a striking instance of its Founder’s wisdom and foresight. As organized by Mrs. Eddy in 1892, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston has been upheld by the various courts of Massachusetts, including the Supreme Court of that State. In the course of certain legal procedures it was unmistakably shown that this Church has all the protection of human law without being restricted in its activities by that law.
The prototype of “The Mother Church” is, “…The structure of Truth and Love;…” (S&H 583:12) This corresponds to the spiritual universe. The actuality of this spiritual idea lies within our grasp. It consists wholly in the proof which we daily and hourly give of the healing and redemptive power of Christian Science. It is encouraging and stimulating to recognize our responsibilities in this respect. The real Movement of Christian Science cannot be localized. It is not in Boston nor in any place, and yet it must bless Boston, and every other place where Christian Science is now known, and is being demonstrated. Its real power and influence are to be seen as the operation of the divine Mind through genuine Christian Science treatment, healing the sick, saving the sinner, and harmonizing the jarring elements of our world. This Science is both universal in Principle and adaptability.
In adapting Science to human needs, Mrs. Eddy was under the necessity of employing human beings, and in so doing she found herself obliged to take cognizance of the seeming faults of human beings. She wrote certain rules for the government of the Church. In her book entitled Miscellany, Mrs. Eddy has written, “Heaps upon heaps of praise confront me, and for what? That which I said in my heart would never be needed, — namely, laws of limitation for a Christian Scientist….Notwithstanding the sacrilegious moth of time, eternity awaits our Church Manual, which will maintain its rank as in the past, amid ministries aggressive and active, and will stand when those have passed to rest.” (My. 229:24-4) Many of these rules were first published in the Christian Science Sentinel, and afterwards embodied in what is now known as the Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts. They constitute the unchangeable rules of the Christian Science Movement. Many of them are admonitory rather than absolutely mandatory. They thus imply the necessity for active demonstration of Christian Science, not only on the part of those who administer the rules, but also on the part of the rank and file of the membership.
Among the rules in the Manual, there are a good many that require in their operation the personal sanction of the Pastor Emeritus, one Mary Baker Eddy. This sanction now is not obtainable.
Considering what The Mother Church actually is, it ought to be perfectly obvious to any reasonably-minded person that it can be carried on according to the understanding that the membership has gained of the Founder’s ideals. There is no question but that it is being so carried on. The great body of Christian Scientists are firmly convinced that Mrs. Eddy designed to have the church go on exactly as it is going on, so far as all of its legal and other activities are concerned. Naturally, she expected that her Church would be of ever increasing value, and helpfulness to mankind — that in this and other respects it would, through the demonstration of those who constitute its membership, attain an unprecedented and incomparable influence for good in the world.
Let us press on to the realization and fulfillment of her desire and expectation, by seeing that the Church does continue in the manner that she designated in the Church Manual. (Man. 104:1-18)
Referring to the rules in the Manual, she says that they will do for the race what absolute doctrines destined for future generations might not accomplish. It is a well known and practically universally accepted rule of law, based upon principle, that a trust, whether philanthropic or financial, shall not lapse nor fail of the intended purpose of the founder, when the sanction of the founder for certain details of administration is no longer obtainable, even though such sanction is required by the terms of the deed or the instrument of the trust; but that such trust, or expressed purpose, shall continue to function according to the intention of the founder, regardless of the impossibility of fulfilling that particular requirement. In short, the general or specific purpose is to be considered, and the technical requirements are secondary, and can be laid aside. Let it be repeated that in the years since Mrs. Eddy ceased to be personally present as the Leader of this Christian Science Movement, it appears at this time in 1928, that “The Mother Church” has continued on successfully and progressively; a fact which properly considered, sets the whole question at rest. I am writing of this matter at length for the reason that printed propaganda of all sorts is in circulation, and it is well for you to be able to handle it, especially when it touches the thought of your patients, or the thought of others who might, because of the immaturity of their understanding, be influenced by it.
The citations from Mrs. Eddy’s works accompanying such propaganda are not sent out for the purpose of enlightening the reader. They are not intended to aid his intelligence and help him to judge for himself. They are, on the contrary, invested with a meaning quite foreign to them, and invariably accompanied by the mental suggestion that the recipient shall accept the interpretation of the sender. I particularly request that you should be alert in regard to this matter, and protect yourselves as well as your patients, and the Cause in general, against such propaganda, accompanied as it is by aggressive mental suggestion. Such quotations are not justified by the facts of Christian Science history.
It is true that in the first edition of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says that church organization is not necessary, but that book was written long before she had had the experience of founding and establishing the Cause of Christian Science. It might be truthfully said of Mrs. Eddy that she is the greatest apostle of progress that the world has ever known, for she alone founded progress upon Principle. She always progressed, and is always progressing, as must be the case with the Discoverer of the Science of infinite Mind. As the vision of the possibilities of her discovery grew clearer, and the opposition became more evident, she saw that there would have to be a united effort — a united front on the part of all Christian Scientists, in order that they might be protected in the practice of Christian Science, and more importantly, that Christian Science might be protected from adulteration!
It is ludicrously invariable that those who say that the time for organization is past, immediately proceed to organize in some form or another. Consistency is evidently no part of this particular error. Be awake to recognize the sophistry of such propaganda. It urges you to have an open mind; but in the study of arithmetic would you for a moment consider with an “open mind” the suggestion that twice two is five? Or in geometry consent to be “open minded” enough to weigh the suggestion that a straight line is not the shortest distance between two points?
We need to remind ourselves that every form of malpractice is utterly futile according to its own admission, unless it can enlist the cooperation of the person or persons who are the objects of the malpractice. The effort to cajole us into acquiescence with certain forms of propaganda having utterly failed, this same propaganda now prophesies every sort of evil for loyal members of “The Mother Church” in the attempt to instill fear and thus induce Christian Scientists to cooperate with evil against themselves. It need hardly be pointed out that all such error is doomed by its own act.
All attempted defections from Christian Science have occurred through personal ambition, and are in the nature of self-exploitation. They have no standing of their own. They do not obtain any recognition from the public and cannot do so. They have no other basis or continuity than that of mere self-advertisement. To enter into any controversy with such conditions is a great mistake that should be avoided at all costs. You are masters of the situation, publicly and privately, so long as you keep all that error in the realm of nothingness. If you argue with it, especially publicly, or if you correspond with it semi-publicly, it then begins to assume the aspects of respectability, and the whole aim of that particular malpractice is to induce us to do that very thing.
Now as to personal leadership, Mrs. Eddy’s own words are authentic. The best that can be maintained for anything that she is said to have said, is that it is not to be relied upon, unless it corresponds to her own statements exactly. Years ago when some person suggested himself as a leader, Mrs. Eddy wrote in the Christian Science Journal: “Is it that he can guide Christian Scientists better than they, through the guidance of our common Father, can guide themselves?...” (Mis. 371:7-10) This is stated still more metaphysically in Miscellany where she writes, “What remains to lead on the centuries and reveal my successor, is man in the image and likeness of the Father-Mother God, man the generic term for mankind.” (My. 347:2-5)
It is clear from this that Principle individually demonstrated is to be our “Leader,” just as Principle has always been the Leader in the Christian Science Movement, even when Mrs. Eddy was personally demonstrating such Leadership. Ultimately no other leadership is possible, and the declaration of this fact occurs repeatedly in Mrs. Eddy’s works, especially where she declares the right of man to be self-governed. In the textbook she has written, “God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience,” and “Reflecting God’s government, man is self-governed.” (S&H 106:7-9; 125:16-17) This is the ideal of Christian Science. Everything depends upon making it practical. The churches will never be right until the individual members demonstrate the individual self-government of divine Principle.
Upon this demonstration hinges the peace of the world, the brotherhood of man, and the federation of nations. This is the task, and we may as well set ourselves to it at once. It means just what the Bible says, that is, “a falling away first,” which does not signify a falling away of persons, but a falling away of fear and selfishness in persons. If we, who are here, gain this power of self-government through self-reformation, which is the only way it can be gained, and thus attain divine wisdom step by step, we shall habitually solve our Church problems almost as quickly as they appear. When we have a Christian Science Church composed of individuals governed by divine Principle, we shall thereby establish the first evidence towards the fulfillment of Mrs. Eddy’s prophecy on page 565 of Science and Health, line 16, where she writes, “Christ, God’s idea, will eventually rule all nations and peoples — imperatively, absolutely, finally — with divine Science.” She further states, “God, good, being ever present, it follows in divine logic that evil, the suppositional opposite of good, is never present.” And “God, good, is self-existent and self-expressed, though indefinable as a whole.” (S&H 72:21-23; 213:9-10)
The question “How shall I handle this or that error?” can always be answered by asking this question: “How does good handle evil?” It is vastly important that one should see this, not only for one’s own welfare, but also because the seeing of it is very necessary to the welfare of mankind. It cannot be too often repeated that Christian Science operates from the standpoint of Principle, the allness of good. Incidentally, but inevitably it reveals the false and illusive nature of evil, then it justifies its claim to be Science by showing the exact way in which good may be utilized to overcome and destroy evil.
In this connection know your ability to manifest divine wisdom, and incidentally, know that you can avail yourselves of all the adroitness and cleverness that may be needed in order to nullify, obliterate the seeming activity, and influence of mental malpractice or the animal magnetism being manifested in any form whatsoever. The first essential step and daily duty is set forth in the Church Manual, especially in the rule for “Motives and Acts,” Section One, in Chapter on Discipline, page 40. This rule specifically admonishes us against being erroneously influenced.
It is clear that in the measure that you “see” the allness of good, you recognize the nothingness of evil — in exactly the same proportion that you see that Spirit is all substance, you know that malpractice has no place, no space, no occupancy, no law, no influence, and no evidence. Be increasingly alert in the matter of handling suggestions of whatever nature. If one recognizes a mistake, or wrong thought, or wrong action in oneself, or in others — one should not delay to reject the belief of its reality, reject the thought that it has any law or influence. Here and there one looking on from the outside — from a certain remoteness of observation — may think that he sees a way in which things in our Movement could have been carried on more scientifically. He may be right, he could also be wrong. He, or she, must remember that he may not know every side of any given situation. In any event, the duty of every Christian Scientist is plain. It consists in being a Christian Science, and one who is a Christian Scientist is not exalting any error, or mistake in the realm of truth by giving it duration, but on the contrary is reducing any and all forms of error, so-called, to its native nothingness! Such “work” is tremendously helpful to our Church, meaning both the branch churches AND “The Mother Church.”
Practically and perseveringly, we should take part in the activities of the branch church to which we belong. Not that we must necessarily accept official positions or membership in various church committees, although it would be perfectly proper for us to do so — there are others coming along, especially in the larger churches, who can do such work, thus releasing practitioners to give more of their time to the practice. Our decisions in regard to these things must depend upon circumstances, the conditions of which an individual concerned must be the sole judge. I most earnestly urge you to attend Sunday services, and to take part in the Wednesday testimony meetings. Do the necessary protective work for the testimony meetings, to keep them on the high plane of actual Christian Science, yet free from selfadvertisement, and other phases of animal magnetism. Always be ready to say something in the way of genuine testimony whenever necessary.
I do not imply by the above, that we should be expected to testify every Wednesday evening. If we do our work thoroughly, it will seldom be necessary for us to give audible testimonies in order to keep the bark, so to speak, moving along into the healthful channel of true Christian Science. It takes but a few moments to know what that meeting actually is, and at the same time to realize the divine law that governs, and carries it on. In any event, we have a duty to perform here, and we ought to face it, and perform it. Let your testimony be simple, direct, and absolutely clear. We are all capable of making ourselves useful and helpful in the Wednesday meeting, and I again most earnestly urge upon you a proper exercise of your ability in this regard.
There are other duties which require a demonstration of moral courage. Certain reforms in our church work must be brought about. The tendency of the membership to vote on matters of importance without due consideration, and especially the fear or failure to vote against a proposal of which they do not approve — is becoming more and more a matter of concern. It is not only a matter of regret, but of danger. The danger lies chiefly in the direction of weakening the moral standard of the church membership. In this concern, one cannot properly ignore one’s personal responsibility. It should not be forgotten that the enemy claims to be adroit and takes advantage of every opportunity. Our gratitude for Christian Science makes us responsive to every financial need of the church, although this generosity is apt to be a vulnerable point. It sometimes enables an irresponsible or self-exploiting individual to rise in a business meeting and propose the expenditure of a sum of money, frequently a large sum, and carry the proposition by a majority vote against all reason and good business sense. Our duty to the Cause demands that we handle this error and thus prevent it; however, in fulfilling this duty we may find that we are compelled to resist such action “tooth and nail” audibly as well as silently! This may sound very personal, but as a matter of fact it is not personal at all. Error generally seems to be “personal,” but it is always error. Ambition and pride, the desire for recognition without the willingness to earn it by legitimate Christian Science work, are all phases of mortal mind, though they may appear to be persons!
That every disease is a specific error is a fact revealed by Christian Science. The disease being error, it is necessarily a finite, material, unreal belief. On the other hand, an idea of Truth, though necessarily specific, is infinite, eternal, real, immeasurable. In what is ordinarily called scientific work, when an error occurs in statement or calculation, we displace the error with the correct statement or calculation, and there we stop; but this procedure is not the way of Christian Science. The specific true or right idea cannot be fitted into the supposititious occupancy of a wrong belief, but the specific right idea, being understood and maintained, operates according to the law of its divine Being to prove the unreality of the specific error, and then the error just disappears.
The disciples asked Jesus in regard to the man who was born blind, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” and Jesus replied, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (Jn. 9:2, 3) They were evidently seeking something very specific that would fit in exactly, and explain or displace the error. Jesus in his answer showed that this was not the way of true Science, and he indicated at the same time the right mental attitude. They were inclined to work out from sin and suffering to salvation and health. He, on the contrary, proceeded from divine Principle, the standpoint of salvation and health, thus abolishing the belief that sin could be a cause for blindness, or a cause for any other belief.
This is what always takes place in the genuine practice of Christian Science; the light of Truth brought to bear upon a case reveals and destroys the hidden error. This is illustrated in the healing of the blind man, and the story ought to come to us both as warning and enlightenment. Warning against the error of believing that sin can be a cause for suffering, or that it can be anything at all except a lie; enlightenment as to the way of nullifying sin as a belief of cause, along with all of its supposititious effects — through the instantaneous and immovable recognition of God, good as the one and only Cause. The right idea which healed this case was not specific according to the limited, finite views of the disciples, but it was specific according to the infinite understanding of Christ Jesus. It operated specifically by virtue of divine power and law, and consequently healed the blind man. To endeavor to probe the consciousness of a patient in order to discover the hidden error is not the way, nor any part of the way, by which Jesus healed that case. His answer to the disciples indicates that he was aware, he knew that the man never really had any material origin or parents, and thus never had any sinning parents. Jesus knew that the man was sinless because God alone was his parent, therefore only the works of God were manifested in him. This was specific and very thorough. By this we can understand that the word “specific” takes on a much broader meaning in Christian Science practice, than in any other scientific work!
When we handle specific hidden error after this manner, we may metaphysically remove the sandals from our feet, for this is indeed “holy ground.” Herein is that dominion of Truth knowing its own infinitude, reversing and overcoming the erroneous testimony of the material senses.
In order to be clear and progressive in our practice, it is well to remember and reconsider from time to time just what Christian Science is, and what is its actual mission. The essential fact of religion as Science is the perfection of Infinity, and the correlated and equal fact is the perfection of all of the manifestations of Infinity. To both of these facts the Christian Scientist must adhere unswervingly.
That there is sense testimony contrary to perfection goes without saying. Human beings are involved in such testimony. All the deep and noble desires of the human heart have always found themselves hopelessly arrayed against such testimony. One of the first things that Christian Science does for the individual is to dissipate this hopelessness. Mrs. Eddy writes in the textbook: “Truth is revealed. It needs only to be practiced.” (S&H 174:20-21) This need exists not divinely, but humanly. While perfection, and immortality are the facts of Infinity — and must ever constitute the standpoint from which scientific endeavor actually emanates and operates, we must recognize that there is a belief of imperfection as well as mortality. If there were no such beliefs there would be no reason for Christianity, or the Science of it!
We are thus required to reject the testimony of the senses when it is afflictive, but we cannot proceed far in that direction without seeing that such testimony is always more or less afflictive or threatens to be so. Then progress forces us to become more and more radical in differentiating between Truth and error. Thus, day by day we see more clearly that this means to differentiate between Spirit and matter. The demand for progress in this regard is insistent and irrepressible. What we call matter is self-evidently mindless. Human theories ascribe certain conditions, laws, and instincts to matter. Take away mortal mind or human thought, and matter itself would manifest none of these. It is therefore clear that human belief or mortal mind is the fundamental materialism. Nevertheless, Mrs. Eddy has written, “In the material world, thought has brought to light with great rapidity many useful wonders.” (S&H 168:1-2) These thoughts constitute a kind of new earth that is extraordinarily convenient and most interesting. In common with every worthy event in human history or progress they indicate, although they do not represent, governing Intelligence. We cannot therefore properly regard such material science lightly. It is a great body of thought, and we should not write or speak of it otherwise than justly, always with respect. Besides this, our material scientists, so-called, sometimes show more devotion to an ideal, with more consistent enthusiasm in following it, than some students of Christian Science do in their study of the Science of Being. It is well to remember that Christian Science is always MIND Science. It does not deal with matter at all, other than to reject the general belief of life, substance, or intelligence in matter.
In the infinity of perfect Principle and its perfect universe there can be no disease or other destructive, inharmonious element. Disease is but a belief. It must always be treated as a belief, and because it is a belief, nothing else, it can always be overcome, dissipated by the action of the one Mind. There is really no such thing as a terrible disease, or any other kind of disease! Therefore we should not endow the name of any so-called disease with any more terror than we would any other so-called belief. Our work, among other things, is to remove all the “terror” attached to the names of so-called diseases. We are to deny and overcome the fear of disease of whatever name and nature! “Cancer” is merely the name for a belief, just as “cold” is a name for a belief. In fact, “animal magnetism” is a more specific name in some instances for both of the aforementioned beliefs, and “fear” is a still more specific name — in Science.
The word “malignant” applying to thought or belief quite as much as to physical conditions is another “name” that terrifies. We meet and master malignancy by the power of Truth, and when such belief seems to stand up, asserting itself in the various ways associated with it, especially that of “incurability,” we must mentally, spiritually, stand up and dominate — destroy the self-assertive and presumptuous error with the Truth that says, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:23)
Mrs. Eddy has this to say: “The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, ‘as when a lion roareth.’ It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear.” (S&H 559:10-12) In these days this is evident on every hand. Material systems are exclaiming “art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matt. 8:29) The chemicalization thus goes on, and its severity seems to increase. New discoveries in physics are forcing material scientists to abandon the theory that matter is substance. The old material landmarks are giving way or disappearing rapidly, and the human intellect stands aghast at its own proof of its own futility. Foreseeing this, Mrs. Eddy wrote in the textbook, “The crude creations of mortal thought must finally give place to the glorious forms which we sometimes behold in the camera of divine Mind, when the mental picture is spiritual and eternal. Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind?” (S&H 264:3-10)
Chemicalization seems to be an unavoidable experience incidental to human progress. The way to handle it, whether it be general or individual, is to affirm and know that in the infinity of good there is nothing to change, consequently there is no chemicalization. Everything, every idea of infinite Being, is now and forever perfect. This fact must be affirmed as law, the law of Love, which heals the socalled chemicalization, and pacifies the agitation that sometimes accompanies the process of spiritual awakening. By this kind of work, faithfully carried on, we can prevent the belief of “chemicalization” from being destructive.
Perfect Love is infinite and therefore cannot be localized. The power of this infinity of Love, however, is available in the smallest detail of existence, because Mind, Spirit, Love is the substance of every idea in the divine universe. Therefore everything, every idea, from the infinitesimal to immensity, has the substance, and only the substance, of the Mind which is Love. Whatever phase fear may assume, in belief, whether called “malignant,” or otherwise dangerous, or incurable, the remedy is this divine presence, substance, Mind, Spirit, Love, for this is the substance, or being of every idea. For this reason we must know that whatever the socalled disease appears to be, or wherever it appears to have location, right there infinite Love, Mind, substance, actually is, and is Its own being, Its own location, Its own substance, and Its own law of permanent, harmonious healing!
We have often considered the fact that the operation of Science is not one person treating another, but is Truth destroying error. Then the question arises, if Truth so operates, what part has the practitioner in the case? The answer is, a divine part, because the practitioner represents God, and the demand is that he, or she, shall represent nothing unlike good, and make endless progress in so doing. “We classify disease as error, which nothing but Truth or Mind can heal, and this Mind must be divine, not human.” (S&H 483:5-6)
We must understand Principle, not merely say the word in a rote manner. Standing for the right, humanly speaking, is not enough to constitute entire exemption from danger. Christian Scientists like other people sometimes manifest a kind of courage that cannot properly be called fearlessness. Frequently it is nothing more than pride, and pride in the last analysis, is a state of extreme fear. If one is called upon to stand for what he believes to be right, he ought to demonstrate enough wisdom, which also means enough Love, to stand in the right way. Real fearlessness and wisdom always go hand in hand. Every earnest Christian Scientist is striving to overcome fear. Mrs. Eddy’s works admonish us to do so, yet few, if any, of us could claim absolute and unvarying success in this respect. There are, however, practical, helpful steps that can easily be taken. If we would handle fear effectively for every case, and every so-called problem, the healing would be much more rapid and would always be permanent.
Consider whether we have been doing the very best that we are capable of doing in this matter of destroying the supposititious influence of fear. To proceed correctly we must revert to, or start out, from our primal proposition, which is: God is infinite Mind, therefore there is only one Mind, eternal and perfect. Everything in the infinite universe, or to put it more accurately, all that constitutes an infinite universe, is an expression or idea of this one infinite Mind. Every idea of this Mind has exactly the substance or being of Mind, and in its order as an idea of Mind, it is as perfect as Mind, God.
It is perfectly clear that infinite Mind could not fear Itself. Neither could It fear any idea in Its own infinite universe. Therefore, fear is a myth! It is unknown to infinity. Consequently there is no such thing as fear. The divine Mind could not conceive it, and as the divine Mind is the only Mind, there is no mind to conceive it, or believe in it — and because of this fact the belief that fear is real, and that it has influence on so-called human minds or bodies, is a false belief — it can be utterly abolished.
Declare that there is nothing in human history, events, circumstances, or possibilities, no prophecy, or prognostication, no belief of law by which or through which fear can be projected upon or into the thought consciousness of Christian Scientists, or other people. Know that fear can not produce, by any means or methods whatsoever, an impact upon individual or universal consciousness. Finally, declare that there is no mind or body where fear exists, is entertained or operates as law; there is no place, space or occupancy in the whole universe for anything that could induce, produce, or perpetuate the belief of fear! Fear does not exist. To illustrate by metaphor: if Truth were to take you by the hand, and explore with you the whole realm of Infinity, Love — you would find no fear there. Apply this specifically when denying any so-called disease, whether it be called mental or physical, or labeled as lack, or cancer, or some other belief. And, incidentally, declare and know that any seeming presence of fear on the part of the practitioner, or patient, or both, cannot constitute an element or influence of danger, obstruction, or delay in the healing work. We can always know the presence of God, which is actually all there is to our treatment. This means actual and utter extinction to the belief of any presence, power, or law called “fear”!
When difficulties seem to arise, and your cases are not progressing as they should do, lift thought above the realm where there seems to be a conflict between Truth and error. Seek Truth alone. Release yourself from the work for a whole day now and then and let the kingdom of heaven reign within. Ask yourself, “What doth God say and know?” Permit the immeasurable glory of oneness indicated in the words of Jesus, “I and my Father are one” (Jn. 10:30) to appear and pronounce the mandate of divine law.
I trust you will not misconstrue this recommendation. I would not have you less attentive to the needs of your patients, nor less devoted to the essential details and requirements of Science in your practice. When you take a case, be faithful to it. Do not go away and leave a patient unattended, or otherwise shirk any work that is undertaken. Christian Science practice is exacting in all of its requirements. We must be faithful, and I wish that we all might be more specific and thorough.
These words “specific” and “thorough” have, however, new and important meanings in Christian Science. When thought arises superior to the sense of personality, either as patient or practitioner, Science through its own immutable law disposes of the false belief that anything in an infinite creation could be fearful or sinful or afflicted.
Answering the question whether one can sit down and think oneself into a perfect understanding of Christian Science by setting oneself to the exclusive study of Mrs. Eddy’s works for many hours a day, I am obliged to point out that such an effort would be futile. Mrs. Eddy has written in Prose Works, “The advancing stages of Christian Science are gained through growth, not accretion.” (Mis. 206:11-12) A helpful mental attitude is to read the books every day as if you were reading them for the first time. In a certain sense this is true, because we are studying an infinite Science that in its unfoldment is ever new. Yet this unfoldment must be gradual, because it is regenerative. We often see further than we are able to go, and perceive spiritual facts of which we cannot fully avail ourselves at the moment. Logical thinking must accompany unfoldment; but when realization takes place, thought rises above all processes and becomes the actual knowing of the Truth.
In chemistry or engineering or any similar science, the operations may be obvious enough. Both the things, and the tools are tangible according to material sense, but the Science of Mind is different, though not less definite. In fact it is more definite than material science, because it is based upon divine Principle and operates according to divine law. One who thinks deeply can hardly fail to perceive that the accuracy of the divine Mind must exceed all human concepts of accuracy, and yet he may not understand how to demonstrate such accuracy, and he cannot learn how except through Christian Science and the practice of it.
Remember in this connection, that anybody, no matter what may be his occupation, can practice Christian Science in that occupation, and thus prepare himself for the work of healing the sick, should he ultimately be led to enter upon that important work. A certain philosophical writer has lately defined the human will as the ability to think as one desires to think. This is by no means all that could be said regarding the human will, but it serves a purpose in the present instance. We may accept the utility of such a definition in the measure that it is applicable to our needs.
In Science and Health, page 206:4, Mrs. Eddy writes, “The power of human will should be exercised only in subordination to Truth;” and on page 202:3-5, “The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in lifepractice, and God’s will must be universally done.” The Bible also constantly speaks of the will of God; the sayings of Jesus especially abound in references to the divine will. The Lord’s Prayer has the line, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
It is clear from all this that the only will there is, is the will of God, the will of good, the will of the one Mind, divine Principle; and this will is the immutable law of good to man and the universe. There can be no other will than this. It is therefore the will of man, since man must have a will, and this one divine will is the only one there is. Again, Mrs. Eddy writes, “Mystery, miracle, sin, and death will disappear when it becomes fairly understood that the divine Mind controls man and man has no Mind but God.” (S&H 319:17-20)
We thus find that the divine will gives us the power to work metaphysically with precision and continuity of thought and argument. By this means, we may gain in accuracy, manifest it in ever increasing measure. We incidentally find that true thoughts are tangible because they are real and immortal, that we possess them anywhere at any time.
Beliefs may be dealt with metaphysically just as definitely as one may handle pieces of matter; but precision in Christian Science rests upon and proceeds from Principle — the Principle that is Love — which cannot be analyzed in its power and law, but which can be experienced in both. According to Mrs. Eddy, “We can know the truth more accurately than the astronomer can read the stars or calculate an eclipse.” (S&H 84:31-1) Our statements should be correct and increasingly accurate, as we progress in understanding. To affirm one divine Principle, infinite and perfect, with the universe expressing the same perfection — operating according to the law of this perfection — is absolutely right. One may elaborate this according to the unfoldment of Truth in his own consciousness, or, putting it more accurately, as his own consciousness.
In dealing with error we must be equally accurate. It needs hardly be said that Christian Science is revealed for the purpose of dealing with error; and we must daily improve in this area. For this reason while arguing, be sure to declare the truth clearly, and deny the error specifically. In denying the error, a generalization may be found inadequate to meet the requirements of the case. For instance, the statement “there is no belief of disease,” is perfectly correct, but it is not as practically effective as to show clearly that the belief in disease is all there is to disease; that it is a false belief, having no origin or cause, no self-existence, no substance, no matter, no mind, no Principle, no active intelligence or law to sustain it, and no place, space or occupancy for it. Then you are handling or disposing of the belief called “disease” more thoroughly. You will not dispose of that belief by merely declaring that there is no belief of disease, because that does not get at the claim with the accuracy which Science demands. Our recognition of belief in this way does not make belief real, but it does constitute a scientific analysis, a classification of the phenomena with which Christian Science deals.
On the other hand, if you can handle any or every case from the standpoint of one supreme Intelligence, one Ego, so that your realization is untouched by belief or suggestion in any form, you will have vivid experiences of Omnipresence by which the error is rejected — destroyed, and thus effectually and permanently overcome, without elaborate, detailed denial.
Nothing in the way of accuracy was wanting when Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.” (Mark 3:5) Similar results will characterize our work in this age, just as soon and as often as we fearlessly know the truth instead of knowing about truth, and with the same fearlessness KNOW that our knowing is the exact image of God’s law of perfection to man and the universe AND IS the law to the case! Christian Science healing is the operation of divine law, and must therefore be carried on from the standpoint of the law-giver. Here Spirit is supreme and the belief called “matter” has no reality. Therefore the standards by which precision is attained in material science form no criterion, and offer no real method of procedure by which to gain precision in Christian Science.
Nevertheless, the human mind, so-called, must be disciplined, and much of the loose thinking of Christian Scientists is due to lack of mental discipline. To be attentive, accurate, and consecutive in our thinking is demanded of us quite as much as it is of those who work in chemistry and physics, or in many more humble callings, and it is possible that those who have been trained in the accurate methods of so-called material science and material work, may have gained a thoroughness and persistence that we would do well to emulate.
Keep your thinking clear. In order to be clear it must be cheerful. There is no reason why it should be otherwise, seeing that God, the divine Mind is “joyous in strength” to quote the Bible. You will thus avoid confusion of thought, or, should you be assailed by it, you will overcome it promptly by reverting to the divine Mind — proceeding to think from the standpoint of God, good. If such were the universal habit among Scientists, there would be less wondering, especially about death, and what occurs after so-called death. Christian Scientists ought to be further along than this, but except in rare instances, they are not any further along, in fact, some of them are league behind! Death is in exactly the same category as sin and disease. It is error and because it is error, it is not true! As in the case of sin and disease, this fact that death is not true is a scientific proposition which is to be proved more and more conclusively. The power and law by which this proof is available cannot be questioned. Thus, Christian Science instructs us so intelligibly and thoroughly that we gain a conscious sense of this power. We must therefore declare and maintain the law of this power!
Notwithstanding this, there has sprung up among Christian Scientists an element of old theology that regards death as inevitable, and in some instances as a kind of a blessing. Among the workers who helped to establish the cause of Christian Science, no such attitude was tolerated for a moment. It should not be tolerated now either. God, Mind, Principle, is Life. Every idea in the universe exists eternally by virtue of this deathless Life! Therefore, there is no death! To meet and master the claim of death, we must stand for Life, and as Life, the one and only Mind, Principle. Speaking of Jesus, Mrs. Eddy wrote, “He understood man, whose Life is God, to be immortal, and knew that man has not two lives, one to be destroyed and the other to be made indestructible.” (S&H 369:19)
Any thought or talk of different “planes of existence” is erroneous and misleading. It is true that Mrs. Eddy uses the word “plane,” but she does this scientifically, and shows that the expression “plane of existence” (S&H 573:3) has nothing to do with death, and death nothing to do with it. She writes of “advancing to a higher plane of action,” (S&H 256:2), but this is purely metaphysical in its meaning.
I recently received a visit from one who has been a student of Christian Science many years, served as First Reader, and afterwards on the Board of Directors of his branch church for several successive terms. This individual was full of “planes of existence” and seemed to be just as much a believer in death as he had been before he ever heard of Christian Science. Such an instance as that shows that Science is frequently accepted only theoretically, and that treatments which may have gone on under such views — surely must have had much of the uncertainty, and not infrequently, in case of seeming disaster, all of the resignation of old theology!
That there are in our ranks those who accept the grand statements of Christian Science as setting forth beautiful theories, but who cling tenaciously to the testimony of the material senses as actuality, is unquestionable. Mrs. Eddy writes, “We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.” (S&H 264:10-12) How can we expect to do this if we take a tentative or uncertain attitude in handling this particular error? It is not true that we are actually mortal and only theoretically immortal. We are actually immortal, and the belief that we are mortal is but a theory — an utterly false, erroneous theory. Christian Scientists cannot afford to be so uncertain in their stand against this error, and against the tendency of the unscientific thought, especially within our own ranks!
Not infrequently the response to all of this is the remark, “Oh, but of course we cannot really die, just the body dies.” But, Mrs. Eddy specifically tells us in the textbook: “Man is immortal, and the body cannot die, because matter has no life to surrender.” (S&H 426:29-31) As for the talk about planes of existence, I do urge upon you the necessity of refusing to dethrone or belittle your concept of true being by such prattle. To demonstrate Life is to have one, and only one, “plane of existence,” and then to stay with it! If it were not true that we are already immortal, then we could never be, for nothing can ever come to pass that is not already existing in the divine Mind, Principle. Mrs. Eddy also says, “death must be overcome, not submitted to, before immortality appears.” (S&H 76:30-31) There is no way of overcoming it other than that which Christian Science offers. This way is radical and revolutionary.
In the proportion that we gain the true idea of body, we see that body is as immortal as Soul, for it is the idea of Soul. One who has studied Christian Science, and who fails to deny the belief that there is a mortal body, needs correction — although it may not be wise to offer it. The allness and ever-presence of Life is the right standpoint, and our attitude must be uncompromising, or it is worthless.
The belief in the naturalness or inevitability of so-called death is no part of the mental and spiritual equipment of a real practitioner. The true Christian Science practitioner could no more entertain the thought of death in relation to a patient, than he could entertain such a thought in relation to God. While it seems less objectionable to say that some one “passed away,” or “passed on,” rather than to say that he “died,” we should not lose sight of the fact that there is no “passing away,” or “passing on,” or “dying,” and that no one should seem to do any such thing. Christian Scientists were formerly much more alert in this respect than they are now. Where the family were Scientists, or where they were willing to follow the advice of the practitioner, work was carried on sometimes for many hours after death seemed to have occurred, and in many instances the results were all that could be hoped for!
Again in Prose Works we can read what Mrs. Eddy says on this subject, “Thine is the upspringing hope, the conquest over sin and mortality, that lights the living way to Life, not to death.” (My. 192:10-12) Mrs. Young one day said to me, “Infinite Being is; and as no thing could ever have sprung from nothingness, all that exists must have existed from all eternity. Life, men, and things then exist inevitably; and because they exist inevitably it is impossible that they should ever cease.” Thought must have the power of the divine Mind back of it, or it has no scientific value or influence. We must therefore be on our guard lest we revert to the old habit of merely thinking about Truth. While thought about Truth is educational, it is not the method of absolute Science. Thinking Truth, or better still, knowing Truth, is Science.
We are not, therefore, really working out of something, nor working something out. There never was any working out of Infinity. Everything is already perfect and complete in Infinity. We are not required to do something to creation, but we are required to understand the fact that all good is eternal and already accomplished, and every idea exists in completeness and perfection now and forever. If we ceaselessly know this, ordinary human events come under the law of this knowing, and occur at the right time and in the right way.
In accordance with this discernment we must take part in the Sunday church service. The Church Manual implies that we should do so. (Please read from the Manual, Section 5, page 42.) Therefore if one hears a Lesson-Sermon on the subject “Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced,” and fails thereby to gain a clearer sense of the unreality of evil, either the Lesson-Sermon, or the reading, or the listening is at fault. In either event we have something to do in order to offset the suggestion that the Lesson-Sermon has failed in its purpose, and this work of handling the suggestions of malpractice in regard to the Sunday service is often seen to bring about changes, as well as improvements all along the line in the “perfection of the services.”
Health is of God, and it is no exaggeration to say that God is bestowing it without measure, preserving it without deterioration, because God is Mind, and Mind must necessarily bestow its own nature upon its own idea and thereby perpetuate it. This, of course, appears to the world of sense as material health, and thus we have the human and the divine coincidence — or the Christ coming to the flesh to destroy incarnate error.
In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy quotes the saying of Jesus, ‘If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.’ (Jn. 8:51), she then continues, “That statement is not confined to spiritual life, but includes all the phenomena of existence.” (S&H 429:31-2) Everything we actually know of God must show forth in ourselves and as ourselves. Every Sunday we hear read from the desk this citation from I John: 3:2, “when he shall appear, we shall be like him.” That is to say, we are to see Infinity as perfection, and recognize that all of that which Infinity includes, manifests perfection. “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (Jn. 5:26) This means that the divine idea is, in its order, as much alive as Life itself. John saw no temple or body in heaven, but he saw “heaven,” and this shows that his demonstration of identity or body included heaven. All this becomes clearer in the exact proportion that consciousness is being redeemed by Christian Science. To supplant material beliefs with immortal facts is to show forth our immortality. The divine consciousness includes only eternal and perfect ideas, so there can not be any other consciousness. Seeking this one consciousness and gaining it, a human being can manifest divine power just as Jesus illustrated for us. In this way, too, one may foresee the unfoldment of Truth in human consciousness; or he may foresee threatening error, and being made thus absolutely fearless, be able to sense the suggestion of danger, and provide against it, forestalling it without feeling any alarm.
We should learn to bless whatever we are doing. Any legitimate calling, even though it be material, if useful or helpful in any way, should be recognized as having a certain dignity. This will appear more and more as our own thinking improves, and as a result the mere materiality of the work, will be less in evidence, and we shall find that we are demonstrating Christian Science in a practical, everyday kind of occupation.
One’s business or profession is something of which one is very conscious, and sometimes too conscious. It is practically a part of one’s self. Such analysis, however, is unimportant unless it be turned to some good account. What must be seen and lived is the inclusiveness of consciousness, and consequently what must be seen is that anything of which we take cognizance, comes under the law of our thinking, to a greater or lesser extent. We inevitably have some kind of dominion whether we desire it or not. Seeing this, any sensible person will admit that the dominion ought to be helpful rather than harmful. It can easily be helpful, not only to ourselves but to others, and never be harmful; for through the study and practice of Christian Science, our dominion, instead of being the uncertain action of the human will, is proved to be the power of the divine Mind. Thus, we are enabled to nullify the beliefs and fears that more or less influence or dominate the business world.
You thus assume a different attitude toward all the aspects of business life. You recognize that Principle is really the capital of your business. You begin to see and prove that you do not need more capital, because divine Principle is infinite and it is yours now, if you will but have it. When you are assailed by the suggestion of needing this or that, you can declare, “I have no such need. The I AM that I AM, the only I AM there is or can be, is not a state of need, but is Spirit, substance, constituting and thereby possessing all things.”
If assailed by the belief that you need more understanding, deny that, and declare that “understanding IS,” and that all of it is as much yours as anyone’s, that you can have all of it as you have the right to have, without robbing anyone else. In this way recognize that business, your business, is the business of Mind, divine Principle, and that for this reason your business has no competitor, and is in no way subject to the spurious and fluctuating law of supply and demand, for the law of Principle to its own idea is a law of ceaseless and immeasurable supply. We need to see this more clearly and avail ourselves of it more effectually. Just as in treating ourselves, so in treating our business or job occupation, we are too prone to think that we must work out from the error, and struggle with it. Like a human being under a physical claim accepts the false theory that he is in his material body, and then strives to employ Christian Science to free himself from the beliefs that are attached to that body. In just the same way a businessman or woman, is apt to feel that he is in his or her business, and that is the way that most of them do feel, even those who are Christian Scientists. The consequence is that they struggle with fear, and other phases of error that are mostly the products of fear.
It is absolutely essential that a Christian Scientist should rise out of such enslaving beliefs. Consciousness is not included; it is inclusive. Therefore, the first thing to do in one’s business is to rise above it and look down on it, instead of looking out from it! Mrs. Eddy has written, “The human mind will sometime rise above all material and physical sense, exchanging it for spiritual perception, and exchanging human concepts for the divine consciousness. Then man will recognize his God-given dominion and being.” (S&H 531:10)
Therefore, a business man who is a Christian Scientist must inevitably be a practitioner, and can experience daily abundant proof of the availableness of divine power in such human endeavors. In this way one gains a nobler and far happier view of one’s occupation, and one may ask oneself, “If I were divine Principle and could take cognizance of this that I call my business or job occupation, what would I do with it, or do to it?” And then answer from the standpoint of that same Principle. One thing which will characterize that answer more practically, more helpfully than anything else is the utter elimination of fear, while at the same time there will be marked progress in judgment and decision that are so essential to the proper conduct of business affairs.
The dominion that Mind gives to idea is not so much a bestowal as an inevitable fact. To spiritually perceive this fact, and to persistently maintain it, is something more than a privilege; it is a necessity. When the poor human being, suffering or sinning, or both, appeals to us for help, what can we do if we seem to lack the dominion of Christ? In that hour we are forced to claim it, and it would have been better if we had prepared for that hour by recognizing that dominion as natural and inevitable to our being. This dominion is always Mind. It cannot exist apart from the divine presence. Nothing can be permitted to cast a shadow upon the ideas that reveal the immanence of the one Mind.
If fear or doubt assail us, or discouragement knocks at the door of consciousness, we have the power to turn thought in the right direction, and insist that the one Mind IS the only Mind, and gain our deliverance. Thus, it will be found that Mind is our only “refuge and strength” — the solution to all of our difficulties. Mind answers our questions, and because It is Love, It soothes the perturbed feelings when thwarted, irritated egotism asks, “What shall I do?” At the same time Mind thus answers that question with, “The only I or Ego not only knows what to do, but is inevitably doing it!” Stand for the one Ego, and in your healing work stand as this Ego. Become more and more accustomed to the real and only consciousness. Let thought proceed from Mind only. Give it freedom, action, power, and in so doing you will have constant accumulative proofs that such thinking is the very law of God, the law of health to your cases!
In your work be as radical as Truth Itself. In your explanations be as conciliatory as is consistent with Principle. Seek consistency, but avoid stubbornness. Be joyful in your recognition of healing and redemption, wherever it may happen. Be open and receptive to every right idea, but reject wrong beliefs, those immature, emotional, fantastic views that sometimes come in the name of Christian Science. Do not surrender one iota of the divine understanding that you have gained, however much you may be importuned to do so. Thought that starts from the human mind, however conscientious, must be incorrect to some extent, and if persisted in, tends to weariness, and is apt to make the work a burden.
Real Christian Science treatment proceeding from the divine Mind is stimulating and healthful to the practitioner, as well as to the patient. Realize that Mind is always consciousness, and is therefore always conscious; that Mind never feels weary and never falls asleep; and Mind Science is undeviating as law! The practice thus carried on is orderly, free from worry, and provides abundant hours for rest and reasonable recreation. Mrs. Eddy defines spiritual sense as, “a conscious, constant capacity to understand God.” And that, “spiritual sense lifts human consciousness into eternal Truth.” (S&H 209:31; 95:31) Every earnest student of Christian Science is gaining in spiritual sense, and the consequent change of consciousness should enable him to realize daily, a new and better world. It is the city that “lieth foursquare,” that is, the complete idea that resides in and emanates from, divine Principle.
Principle is eternal Life. It is primal entity. The human intellect may recognize Principle, but spiritual sense is the means by which Principle becomes scientifically operative in human affairs. Honesty and accuracy, though considered human qualities, are really divine for they never could have origin or being, except as the manifestation of Principle. Spiritual sense is thus seen to be less remote and more easy of attainment. It characterized Christ Jesus, making him practical in utilizing the divine power to heal the sick and to save the sinner. This spiritual sense is Mind’s essence, Mind’s activity. It is not personal, but it saves persons from sin, disease, and death. “The life of man is Mind.” (S&H 402:17)
Mrs. Eddy wrote: “The hour has struck for Christian Scientists to do their own work; to appreciate the signs of the times; to demonstrate self-knowledge and selfgovernment; and to demonstrate, as this period demands, over all sin, disease, and death.” (Mis. 317:5) These words of wisdom from our Leader thus concludes my message for this year’s meeting — may you be blessed for attending.
