About the new cover:

From In Defense of Mary Baker Eddy, and the Remnant of Her Seed, by Paul R. Smillie:

In the Christian Science Sentinel of September 6, 1913 on page ten, Archibald McLellan stated three most important points about the cover of the Sentinel and a minor change made at that time on its cover. Speaking of this change he said, “Beyond this there can be neither desire nor occasion for change in the Sentinel, because,” he said, “Mrs. Eddy’s instructions forbid any change.” He explained this by saying, “Mrs. Eddy likewise gave instructions.” The word “instructions” is most important. Speaking then of the two women, the lamps and the inscriptions beneath them, he said they had been “preserved as expressive of our Leader’s thought. ...” Mrs. Eddy requested that the cover of the Sentinel be light blue in color.”

The Remnant

from Free Speech and Plain Language

The prophet Isaiah’s career began at the end of King Uzziah’s reign, about 740 B.C. In the year of Uzziah’s death, the Lord commissioned the prophet to go out and warn the people of the wrath to come. “Tell them what a worthless lot they are,” He said. “Tell them what is wrong, and why, and what is going to happen unless they have a change of heart and straighten up. Don’t mince matters. Make it clear that they are positively down to their last chance. Give it to them good and strong and keep on giving it to them. I suppose perhaps I ought to tell you,” He added, “that it won’t do any good. The official class and their intelligentsia will turn up their noses at you, and the masses will not even listen. They will all keep on in their own ways until they carry everything down to destruction, and you will probably be lucky if you get out with your life.”

Isaiah had been very willing to take on the job — in fact, he had asked for it — but the prospect put a new face on the situation. It raised the obvious question: Why, if all that were so — if the enterprise were to be a failure from the start — was there any sense in starting it?

“Ah,” the Lord said, “you do not get the point. There is a Remnant there that you know nothing about. They are obscure, unorganized, inarticulate, each one rubbing along as best he can. They need to be encouraged and braced up, because when everything has gone completely to the dogs, they are the ones who will come back and build up a new society; and meanwhile, your preaching will reassure them and keep them hanging on. Your job is to take care of the Remnant, so be off now and set about it.”

What do we mean by the masses, and what by the Remnant?

The mass-man is one who has neither the intellect to apprehend the principles issuing in what we know as the humane life, nor the character to adhere to those principles steadily and strictly as laws of conduct; and because such people make up the overwhelming majority of mankind, they are called collectively the masses.

The line of differentiation between the masses and the Remnant is set invariably by quality, not by circumstance. The Remnant are those who by force of intellect are able to apprehend these principles, and by force of character are able, at least measurably, to cleave to them. The masses are those who are unable to do either.

Everyone with a message nowadays is eager to take it to the masses. His first, last, and only thought is of mass-acceptance and mass-approval. His great care is to put his doctrine in such shape as will capture the masses’ attention and interest.

The main trouble with this mass-man approach is its reaction upon the mission itself. It necessitates tempering, or toning down one’s doctrine, which profoundly alters its character and reduces it to a mere placebo. If, say, you are a preacher, you wish to attract as large a congregation as you can, which means an appeal to the masses; and this, in turn, means adapting the terms of your message to the order of intellect and character that the masses exhibit. If you are an educator, say with a college on your hands, you wish to get as many students as possible, and you whittle down your requirements accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Remnant, aware of this adulteration and of the desires that prompt it, turn their backs on the prophet and will have nothing to do with him or his message.

Isaiah, on the other hand, worked under no such disabilities. He preached to the masses only in the sense that he preached publicly. Anyone who liked might listen; anyone who liked might pass by. He knew that the Remnant would listen.

One of the most suggestive episodes recounted in the Bible is that of a prophet’s attempt — the only attempt of the kind on record, I believe — to count up the Remnant. Elijah had fled from persecution into the desert, where the Lord asked what he was doing so far away from his job. He said that he was running away, not because he was a coward, but because all the Remnant had been killed off and he had got away only by the skin of his teeth, and, he being now all the Remnant there was, if he were killed the True Faith would go flat. The Lord replied that he need not worry about that, for even without him the True Faith could probably manage to squeeze along somehow if it had to; and as for your figures on the Remnant, He said, I don’t mind telling you that there are seven thousand of them back there in Israel whom it seems you have not heard of, but you may take My word for it that there they are.

The other certainty which the prophet of the Remnant may always have is that the Remnant will find him. He may rely on that with absolute assurance.

He may be quite sure that the Remnant will make their own way to him without any adventitious aids; and not only so, but if they find him employing such aids, as I said, it is ten to one that they will smell a rat in them and will sheer off.

Such instances as these are probably not infrequent, for, without presuming to enroll ourselves among the Remnant, we can all no doubt remember having found ourselves suddenly under the influence of an idea, the source of which we cannot possibly identify. It came to us afterward, as we say; that is, we are aware of it only after it has shot up full-grown in our minds, leaving us quite ignorant of how and when and by what agency it was planted there and left to germinate. It seems highly probable that the prophet’s message often takes some such course with the Remnant.

If, for example, you are a writer or a speaker or a preacher, you put forth an idea which lodges in the subconscious mind of a casual member of the Remnant and sticks fast there. For some time it is inert; then it begins to fret and fester until presently it invades the man’s conscious mind. Meanwhile, he has quite forgotten how he came by the idea in the first instance, and even thinks he has invented it; and in those circumstances, the most interesting thing of all is that you never know what the pressure of that idea will make him do.

Albert Jay Nock (1870-1945) was an influential American libertarian author, educational theorist, and social critic.

History tells us that the world of Mary’s day was drowning in its foully materialistic thinking. Rome, the most important city, had set up the worship of the Emperor, the adoration of a human personality, as her religion. What remained of the morality and spirituality of the Israelites was, at this time, found only among the common people.

And sacred history tells us that in this province of Galilee, and among the common people, was a little group of metaphysical thinkers. Right in the midst of this dense materialistic thinking of the upper class, was this little group, this remnant of Israel who practiced pure and undefiled religion. They taught and practiced the most beautiful moral precepts. In fact, they were full of light in that black night of materialism. This little remnant of Israel was undiscouraged for Israel’s deliverance. Their faith in God was unshaken by the blood ravages of Rome.

The greater portion of this province of Galilee all looked for a materialistic deliverer to save them from the Roman Emperor. But this remnant of Israel, this group of metaphysicians, looked for a deliverer who would purify his people. They realized that Israel’s woes were the result of her false and unrighteous thinking. Hence, this little group looked for a spiritual King who would deliver Israel from its materialistic mode of thought.

According to prophecy, their Deliverer must belong to the highest order of Being. He was to be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and He was to be born of a virgin of the family of David. His mission would be the salvation of His people and of all mankind. Since this prophecy was a fixed law to this little remnant of Israel, they made themselves ready for the coming promised deliverer. They purified their thought and made many marvelous demonstrations, which logically followed their spiritual thinking.

This little group knew from actual experience that spiritual law, set in motion by purified and spiritualized thought, was far more effective than the forcing of political issues through material aggression or human will. Mary belonged to this group.

Mary was deeply religious, a woman of strong character and super-intelligence. She was familiar with the Scriptures and knew that an immaculate conception would not just happen. She knew that an immaculate conception could take place only if the purity of the virgin’s thought was sufficiently demonstrated.

Mary knew that if she, a virgin, were to become the mother of the Saviour, this demonstration could only be made through her spiritual understanding of the Fatherhood of God. Her demonstration made, then indeed, God would be the Father of her child, and her child would truly be the Son of God.

The Annunciation

The annunciation, as recorded by Luke, was Mary’s announcement to herself, and to those who looked for Israel’s deliverer, that she was to be the mother of the Saviour, who would save, not only Israel of that day, but all generations to come.

In this annunciation, Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:46-50) This annunciation by the Virgin Mary, is the greatest poem in Hebrew literature. I will say it is the greatest poem that has ever been written.

When the angel, that mighty impression of good, appeared to Mary and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,” Mary answered this angel, saying, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:35, 38)

False theology has made the world believe that this statement made by Mary to the angel, was made in a spirit of mere pious resignation on her part, and that Mary had little or at least very little to do with giving a Saviour to the world. But since “The Key to the Scriptures” has unlocked for us the “Science of Mind,” Mary’s statement, “Be it unto me according to thy word,” reveals Mary’s thought as being on a lofty plane of spiritual power and realization. This statement was a confident assertion that nothing, not even the bringing forth of Israel’s deliverer, was impossible with God. Her words were the acknowledgment of spiritual law.

Christian Science Sentinel, 1921

When Mary Baker Eddy startled the world many years ago with her statement of the nothingness of matter, there were very few who were willing to accept her discovery, and when she further announced that what religious belief had called God is not a person but Principle governing the entire universe, many people objected. She argued that this Principle is Spirit, and that since the creation of Spirit must be spiritual, the real man must also be spiritual.

A few brave thinkers accepted her views, which to her were revelations, not views or beliefs, and as time went on and more thinkers read her textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the numbers grew, and much marvelous healing was done through the application of the understanding gained through the study of the book.

As success took the place of the persecution of the earlier years, the cry arose that perhaps the early Christian Scientists had been too radical, perhaps they had antagonized mortal mind too much, because Mrs. Eddy says, “Emerge gently from matter into Spirit” (S&H). It is all right to emerge gently, or Mrs. Eddy would have not written that sentence, but she surely did not mean that one should not keep on emerging, keep on progressing. She could not have meant that it is right to cease emerging altogether. These individuals who desired an easier way in Christian Science must have lost sight of the fact that all healing is founded on the fundamental truth that there is but one creator and one creation.

What is really demanded of the honest Christian Scientist to-day is to look the question fairly in the face and decide whether he is understanding all that he should, and proving it, or whether he has been lulled to sleep.

There are enough Christian Scientists in the world to-day to save the world, if we believe the statement of Mrs. Eddy which she made to her class in 1889: “We, to-day, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind; as when the earth was without form, and Mind spake and form appeared” (Mis.). In Bible history it will be noted that it was a “remnant” that saved the day. No matter how few the numbers of those who were true to God, that few proved sufficient because Principle was back of them in every step they took. Always there is a “remnant,” that keeps the lamp burning in the temple of Truth; and to-day is not one bit different from past years.

The cry to “Go forward,” is with us as in the time when Moses gave it as God’s word to the people, and it is ever ringing in the ears of those who are awake and will hear. Nothing will ever be gained by going back to the old-time way of begging God to grant our requests. To beg for what is already ours is surely not the right way to prove man’s dominion. It has been proved many times that error is a coward, that the enemy will flee away when bravely faced with the truth, and that every right demand made on Principle will be fully met.

The more we hold to the radical truth, and the less we yield to the apparently easier ways of getting along, the sooner will we arrive at the place where the healing will become easier and more natural. Many have asked why healing came more quickly when they first saw the truth. Excuses, specious ones, have been made for this, but does not the real reason lie just in this fact: that there has been the letting down of the guard, the letting in of error, a consequent lessening effort to live after the pattern “shewed to thee in the mount”?

When awake to the right course, all one needs to do is to remedy the mistake and go to work in the right direction, and better results will follow. Every earnest believer in Christian Science knows that there is always the demand for the only real proof of Christian Science, the healing. That is an imperative demand, and one that must be fulfilled if the work our Leader left for us is to go on in the way she would have approved. It is not in the obeying of the letter of the Word that we are to look for results, but it is in the living of the truth. This will result in the healing of the world of sin and sickness. This work begins in self, and flows and spreads, so that wherever it touches, there the blessing of healing is felt, and that thought of Truth thus sent out extends in ripples, and then into waves out and on into the vast ocean of thought, and the extent thereof knoweth no man.

Christian Science Journal, 1921

“For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of Mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.”

Out of the dust of conflict, out of fear,

Out of the scorn and the reproach of men,

Out of long wrestling in the watches drear

To Israel the Word is come again.

God is gone up unto His threshing floor.

The winds of God upon the nations beat.

Who dares His glory now to stand before?

Who, unafraid, draws near His judgment seat?

He of clean hands, and he whose heart is pure;

By praise of men unhurt, by blows uncowed;

Bearer of burdens, yet he doth endure,

Nor to false gods the faithless knee hath bowed.

The golden calf of place, the lust of power,

The hidden craft that worketh unaware,

These be thy gods, O Israel, this hour—

And multitudes are taken in the snare!

Oh! hadst thou daily prayed, “Thy kingdom come”

Hadst thou been faithful to the warning given!

Thou wouldst not now before thy Judge be dumb,

By blindness led, by every chance wind driven.

Yet God His remnant hath in every vale;

In every city are His two or three,

Seven thousand have not bowed the knee to Baal—

He knoweth how to set His people free.

Day unto day shall might and wisdom grow.

Be still, and listen for the true command.

Fear not, O Remnant. With thee there doth go

The angel of His presence, sword in hand.

Christian Science Journal, July 1914

The time once came when the children of Israel had urgent need to learn a lesson. Left without a leader after the passing away of Joshua, they so lapsed into evil ways that they found themselves fugitives in the land of Midian, hiding in dens and caves in the mountains, in fear for their lives. They endured this for seven miserable years; then, as had so often happened, in their dire extremity they “called upon the Lord,” and He sent them a deliverer.

When Gideon, at the divine command, left his father’s threshing field to become their leader, he was confronted with a somewhat unique situation, for he found that the thirty-two thousand unhappy, frightened fugitives so far outnumbered the Midianites, that at any time — except for their fear — they could easily have asserted their freedom! Even under their new leader, however, they were not to depend upon numerical supremacy for their ultimate release. Mere numbers weighed not one whit in the balances of God; and that was the lesson which they needed to learn, lest in their newfound courage following Gideon’s appearance they should “vaunt themselves,” and say, “Mine own hand hath saved me.” And the way in which they were taught this lesson was indeed a strange one.

The decisive hour had arrived. On one side of the hill were the Midianites, and not far from them the camp of Israel, “beside the well of Harod”; but before the fighting was allowed to begin, those of the Israelites who were afraid were told to go home, and twenty-two thousand of them left. The remaining ten thousand were then told to go to the water’s edge and drink. “And the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you.”

Those who were chosen were those who, in their eagerness to hasten the attack, quickly dashed up the water with their hands and hurried on. No wonder the host of Midian fled! Gideon’s “three hundred” stands for that high quality of mental alertness which always wins. Not by the twenty-two thousand who were afraid, nor by the ten thousand who were indifferent, but by the three hundred who rushed on to meet the foe, were the Israelites delivered.

There is a subtle mesmerism in numbers to which the Christian Scientist has constant need to keep himself awake. One cannot afford to be lured into the belief that in numbers there is strength, nor into the opposite and equally erroneous belief that in lack of numbers, there is weakness. One right thought has more activity, power, and impulsion than any number of wrong thoughts, no matter how often or how vehemently expressed.

If everyone in the world were to shout at the same moment, “The world is flat,” it would not make it flat. One single voice replying, “The world is round,” would have more power, because it has more truth than a whole world’s mistaken impotence. The remembrance of this should surely inspire all of us with fresh courage, but especially those students of Christian Science who happen to be living in small places, where the workers comprise but a handful.

Someone has defined the need of the moment as “not more Christian Scientists, but better ones.” Then let us look up and rejoice. The little room where “two or three are gathered together,” may be the very chrysalis from which some radiant butterfly will one day rise to find its wings. Have not wonderful things grown from just such modest beginnings? Do we not all know of “an upper room” where a little company once gathered to sup and talk together? Those who met there were but twelve in number, yet there went forth from that memorable meeting a message which has revolutionized the world.

In the small town the adversary whispers, “There are so few, how can you do anything?” In the large town he says, “There are so many, why do you need to do anything?” But it is the same adversary, and we need to recognize it in whatever outward garb it comes to us, for its purpose is ever to beguile us into the inaction which would tend to check the steady progress of our cause.

There is no simpler way to put a man to sleep, figuratively speaking, than to make him think that there is no particular reason for him to keep awake. Even the disciples once listened to this suggestion. It was in the garden of Gethsemane, and although Jesus had asked them to watch with him “one hour,” as soon as he had left them they were straightway overcome with slumber. Is it not possible that each man allowed himself to fall asleep partly because he was so sure that all the rest would keep awake? Yet it ended in all quietly sleeping at the very time that their help was most needed; for just a step away, in the purple shadows of the moonlit olive trees, their beloved Master was kneeling, in lonely agony, “his sweat ... as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Gideon’s “three hundred” is here today, for it simply means a condition of thought expressed in fidelity, in love, in earnestness, in consecration, in steadfast devotion. It is quality rather than quantity. It is that for which Mrs. Eddy once sent out an imperative call, as found in “Miscellaneous Writings” (p. 176): “Are we duly aware of our own great opportunities and responsibilities? ...Never was there a more solemn and imperious call than God makes to us all, right here, for fervent devotion and an absolute consecration to the greatest and holiest of all causes. The hour is come. The great battle of Armageddon is upon us. ...What will you do about it? ... Will you doff your lavender-kid zeal, and become real and consecrated warriors? Will you give yourselves wholly and irrevocably to the great work of establishing the truth, the gospel, and the Science which are necessary to the salvation of the world from error, sin, disease, and death? Answer at once and practically, and answer aright!” And Gideon’s “three hundred” answered.

The power of sin destroyed; the fetters sore

Of pain, unloosed; the falsity of fear

Exposed; the hurt that biteth to the core,

All healed; the sorrow deep, the bitter tear,

All wiped away! Jesus, our hearts to thee

Are turned to praise thy glorious ministry.

Nor mortal gifts, nor burdened joys, attest

The grandeur of thy blessed memory;

‘Tis hearts made free through thy benign behest

That, leaving sense for Soul, begin to see

The bliss of thoughts forever turned above,

And find the rapture of thy dear Christ-love.

Back to the top of the page

From Mrs. Eddy

Imagine yourselves in a poorly barricaded fort, fiercely besieged by the enemy. Would you rush forth single-handed to combat the foe? Nay, would you not rather strengthen your citadel by every means in your power, and remain within the walls for its defense? Likewise should we do as metaphysicians and Christian Scientists. The real house in which “we live, and move, and have our being” is Spirit, God, the eternal harmony of infinite Soul. The enemy we confront would overthrow this sublime fortress, and it behooves us to defend our heritage.

How can we do this Christianly scientific work? By intrenching ourselves in the knowledge that our true temple is no human fabrication, but the superstructure of Truth, reared on the foundation of Love, and pinnacled in Life. Such being its nature, how can our godly temple possibly be demolished, or even disturbed? Can eternity end? Can Life die? Can Truth be uncertain? Can Love be less than boundless?

Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love. If you maintain this position, who or what can cause you to sin or suffer?

Perchance some one of you may say, “The evidence of spiritual verity in me is so small that I am afraid. I feel so far from victory over the flesh that to reach out for a present realization of my hope savors of temerity. Because of my own unfitness for such a spiritual animus my strength is naught and my faith fails.” O thou “weak and infirm of purpose.” Jesus said, “Be not afraid”!

“What if the little rain should say,

‘So small a drop as I

Can ne’er refresh a drooping earth,

I’ll tarry in the sky.’”

Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God? You have simply to preserve a scientific, positive sense of unity with your divine source, and daily demonstrate this. Then you will find that one is as important a factor as duodecillions in being and doing right, and thus demonstrating deific Principle. A dewdrop reflects the sun. Each of Christ’s little ones reflects the infinite One, and therefore is the seer’s declaration true, that “one on God’s side is a majority.”

Wait patiently on illimitable Love, the lord and giver of Life. Reflect this Life, and with it cometh the full power of being.

from 1891 Christian Science Journal

The long-looked-for, much-coveted volume of Science and Health, that is to mark an epoch in the Christian Science movement, has at last appeared; and will be eagerly searched, studied, pored over, by every student among us. From this date forward, the thought of all true Scientists will mount higher, and there will appear correspondingly glorious results in the wide and practical field of demonstration; yet, a full understanding of the book will come only as the ripened fruit of years of study combined with faithful, daily effort to reduce its teachings to practice.

Why is a revised edition of Science and Health a necessity?

Inspiration is not a mechanical process of repeating mere words by rote, of rounding them up in just so many sentences and no more. It is not a lifeless force which can be caught and imprisoned in a word, or a volume. It is, rather, the kaleidoscopic presentation of the beauty and wondrous power — not of some new truth heretofore unheard of — but of an eternally existing, spiritual Fact unfolding and forever re-unfolding itself to “eyes that see.”

The simple fact is, the thought of Scientists, all along the line, has mounted higher; and so treasures both new and old are given to us. We can now be taken higher up toward the mountain top, until “we all with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.”

Every student familiar with former editions will remark upon the change made at the heading of chapters, viz: the substitution of Scripture texts for quotations from classic authors; which better adapts the Work to maintain the place it holds in sacred writings. The marginal side-heads occurring throughout the volume, merit a special word of praise; ably aiding as they do, the search for passages to which speedy reference is desired. By means of these, the eye quickly detects the page-topics, without the expense of time required to hunt laboriously through the body text.

A practical suggestion or two regarding study of the new edition: In the first place, do not attempt to dispose of the earlier editions. Some are asking, “Can we be permitted to exchange?” Probably not; but you do not want to do so, even if you can. Fortunate is he who has all former revisions, together with the original edition of 1875! They are indicators of successive stages of growth in Christian Science; and as such, at some future day will not only possess historic value, but will be exceedingly difficult to procure. Keep them all; they will prove a “treasure trove.” Again: Let the new volume be studied in connection with earlier editions. The very contrasts help to see how the thoughts have risen only as we have been able to receive them. This, again, will reveal why the new edition could now be written for us. It is simply because the advancing thought, or demonstration, of Christian Students has ascended to that plane which makes it both possible and practicable for us to have the new Work.

Back to the top of the page

Interesting Squibs

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

These are not dark days: these are great days — the greatest days our country has ever lived.

The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable. If there is not joy in religion, you have got a leak in your religion.

When a man is too busy to laugh he needs a vacation.

“What is laughter?” asks a philosopher. It is the sound you hear when your hat blows off.

We need never be alarmed at the perilous condition of Truth; for, of all things, that seems to me the best capable of taking care of itself.

Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government.

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all others, charity.

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.

The belief that guardian spirits hover around the paths of men covers a mighty truth; for every beautiful, and good, and pure thought which the heart holds, is an angel of mercy, purifying and guarding the life.

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.

In order to grow in grace, we must be much alone. It is not in society that the soul grows most vigorously. In one single quiet hour of prayer it will often make more progress than in days of company with others. It is in the desert that the dew falls freshest and the air its purest.

There is sunshine reflected from a happy and contented mind as readily as from solar rays, and this mental light is universally recognized, and its rays bring warmth and beauty, stimulating all within the range of its influence, and quickening into growth germs of goodness that had long lain dormant.

Back to the top of the page

In Support of Our Nation, Our World

Excerpt from Lectures on Christian Science

We are not helpless in the confusion and turmoil of the times. We have the capacity to extinguish, noiselessly and finally, the fanatical influences bent on upsetting industry and government, and society itself. The totalitarians assume that this period of decadence has arrived. They reckon that the hour has struck for demolishing democratic and Christian civilization.

Sound idealism recognizes that the loss of social, political, or economic freedom jeopardizes spiritual freedom. Hence it is that the Christian is never an appeaser or compromiser when liberty is at stake. Our weapon is of the sort that these inimical influences cannot see or cope with. Our weapon is the truth that Principle governs in all times and in all places, making unprincipled forces of none effect. “The Lord shall have them in derision.”

The leaders in labor, in business, in government must learn that God directs the affairs of men. He rules there today, just as He has always done, regardless of the apparent rule of selfishness, strife, and oppression. “He disappointeth the devices of the crafty.” There is no other government than His. Ultimately this government will be seen to prevail.

Militant materialism, destitute of rationality, must go down in confusion and defeat when challenged by the normal and spiritual forces of Christian Science. “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth” is not sounding brass. Neither is the assurance, “He disappointeth the devices of the crafty.” The Bible promises are kept, because they are more than promises, they are undefeatable facts.

Every individual should fervently pray that his nation proceed wisely and swiftly in the crisis. Each day he should set aside time to realize: “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved.” This prayer should extend to insisting that men and women in places of responsibility will have the courage and resourcefulness to play their part in the world drama.

The forces of evil carry within themselves the seeds of their own destruction. They have no intelligence. They border on lunacy. We should say and know these things, consistently and expectantly. The truth thereby released will not return void. It is the word of God which accomplishes that whereunto it is sent.

Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.

America, spiritually understood, is the outward evidence of man’s individual oneness with God. America, in that sense, is not a nation defined by territorial boundaries but is the spiritual idea of Mind everywhere present.

Man, as God’s idea, is necessarily individual.

America, negatively interpreted, in other words, viewed materially, is the final expression of this individualism seen as human government. The attempt of evil to change America from individualism to collectivism, and all that goes with that theory, is destined to failure. The breath of America is freedom, which means individualism.

To surrender its Pilgrim heritage, would be to sell the birthright of America. But this can never be done, for it is America.

Mrs. Eddy emphasizes individualism thus: “Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God?”

This individualism, this oneness is America.

All forms of government ownership are subtle attempts of evil to thwart this individualism. Government, like Principle, exists because of its citizen, or idea. It does not and cannot exist alone. Then government’s ownership, possession and being must be shown forth as the owning, possessing and being of its man, its citizen.

If government owned and man did not, there could be no ownership expressed and government would fall.

If the great American people will only keep their temper, on both sides of the line, the troubles will come to an end, and the question which now distracts the country will be settled just as surely as all other difficulties of like character which have originated in this government have been adjusted.

Perhaps there is no verse more helpful than Joshua 1:9: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Joshua was about to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. There were enemies to vanquish, obstacles to overcome, and fears to destroy, but he knew that a steadfast remembrance that divine Love was ever about him, would enable him to “fear not, or be dismayed.”

What was true of Joshua and the children of Israel is strikingly true today. The promised land we are to win is the kingdom of heaven within individual consciousness. Affirming that “with God all things are possible,” we cross the Jordan of false doubts and fears. Having much for which to be grateful, and perpetually giving thanks, obstacles fade away and every problem spells victory.

Everyone who studies Science and Health is a pioneer. God is ever speaking to such a one, even as He did to Joshua, and to go forward is the one thing needful. If the battle seems prolonged, it is well to remember that it is under the strain of some long-continued trial that the real test and growth comes.

Victory is with him before he starts out, for God is with him. With Truth alone in his thought, he marches fearlessly onward, for he knows the truth of the assurance given to Joshua: “The Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee.” God’s promises are sure.

Back to the top of the page

A Watch to Work with Often

From November 8, 2018:

“The Science of Mind excludes opposites, and rests on unity.”

Retrospection and Introspection, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 75:18

Let us know that our nation, and every nation, is “one nation, under God, indivisible”! Mrs. Eddy’s standard was love, unity, and fellowship. She knew that in unity there is strength, and that is what error strikes at — making a futile attempt to divide and conquer. Any voice raised against the peace and unity of this nation is silenced by our all-powerful God! The unseen, silent forces of God surround and protect this country and its leaders. “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (II Cor. 10:4)

“The world, with its affairs and its people, is, after all is said and done, governed by the one Mind. Chaos and disorder therefore cannot run riot. The world is a place where Principle governs, making sinister intrigue, selfish ambition, attempts at ruthless domination, unavailing.”

Lectures on Christian Science, by Peter V. Ross, page 203

Back to the top of the page

From the Early Workers

Christian Science Journal 1894

"From the open plains of Bethlehem arose the hillsides as if reaching up to touch the star-lit dome and the gentle glow across the midnight darkness, a herald of that light about to dawn upon a slumbering world. In this canopied stillness, in this quiet vale, some humble shepherds kept guard about their flocks with loving care. The watchful dog stood sentry against the wolf, lest it might molest; and the whole atmosphere seemed full of expectant joy.

Suddenly a great light appeared about them in this hush and darkness, and an angel clothed in white stood before these simple men. A sweet voice broke the silence and said: “Fear not, I bring you glad tidings of great joy. In the City of David a Holy Child is born this day. He is Christ, the Lord. He is born to you, and you will know Him by this sign: He is lying in a manger, and wrapt in swaddling clothes.”

With this surprise came also a grateful joy, touching them with Love’s music. Strains more beautiful than ever before heard burst forth about them: “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men.” As this angel picture receded from their view and left the glad refrain ringing in their consciousness, it bade them go to Bethlehem and see this which had come to pass. Going with haste, they found the Babe lying in the manger, the Babe who was to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords — the Christ who was to teach the power of spiritual might to dominate material belief, from the stable to the home.

Let us consider the meaning of this midnight picture, and see what these simple shepherds have to do with the morning’s dawn.

These broad, open acres and hillsides typify thought awaiting the light of Truth, ready to be aroused from the slumbering Adam-dream. The shepherd is the guarding thought, tender and loving in this valley of humility, while the dog stands for faithfulness to his master’s thought. The sheep and lambs are obedience, submission, gentleness and purity, while the wolf is mortal error. These sheep know their shepherd, and are known of him; and called by name, they will respond, and none other will they follow.

I dare say these pastoral watchers did not find many willing listeners to their simple tale. The wolf then, as now, seeks the lamb that, if possible, it may destroy it. But the great joy of spiritual birth led those happy men to praise God as they returned to the hillsides and their cottage homes; could anything rob them of these glad tidings, “Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”? (Isa.)

In this Bethlehem consciousness or spiritual understanding, the babe “Wonderful” is revealed in this hour, as Christian Science, “The Comforter.” Our Leader is the Shepherd revealing the glories of Immortality, and as she hears the overtures of angels, may the grand symphonies re-echo Love’s music until the Holy Child shall be a universal consciousness, an ever-present, all-abiding “Prince of Peace!”

Christian Science Sentinel, 1900

Why should we give thanks?

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” The Scriptures declare that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” Thanksgiving brings “all the tithes into the storehouse;” then the windows of heaven are opened and the blessing which is poured out is so great that there is not room enough to receive it. Thanksgiving enlarges the borders of human consciousness, thereby removing the limitations of material sense. Thanksgiving is a recognition of the Source of our blessings and brings us nearer that Source. Whatever enables us to draw nearer to God, destroys the error of sense which seems to separate us from Him. This gives us an enlarged conception of our Father in heaven who created man in His own image and likeness. A higher and purer thought of God gives a better idea of what constitutes true manhood and enables us to bring out our identity as sons and daughters of God.

Thanksgiving turns thought God-ward and this lifts us above the seeming power and presence of evil. To recount our blessings, when all seems dark and discouragements beset us on every hand, will dispel the gloom and enable us to see that in reality we have all things and there is no reason for discouragement. Since God holds all things in the hollow of His hand, what is there to fear?

What vision guided the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower when 367 years ago they landed in America? What was it that brought them to the shores of the New World?

It was a vision of hope, a vision of freedom. They hoped to form a nation where the government would be established according to the Scriptures.

On November 9, 1620, after a two-month voyage braving seas and winds which took them far north of their expected destination, those on board the Mayflower wept with joy as they sighted land. Two days later the vessel reached Provincetown bay in Massachusetts. On December 21, 1620, the Pilgrims reached Plymouth. Of their landing Mary Baker Eddy writes:

“On shores of solitude, at Plymouth Rock, they planted a nation’s heart, — the rights of conscience, imperishable glory. No dream of avarice or ambition broke their exalted purpose, theirs was the wish to reign in hope’s reality — the realm of Love.” (Pul. 10:10)

“When first the Pilgrims planted their feet on Plymouth Rock, frozen ritual and creed should forever have melted away in the fire of love which came down from heaven. The Pilgrims came to establish a nation in true freedom, in the rights of conscience.” (Mis. 176:20)

Back to the top of the page

Current Articles

To anyone who feels in bondage from the false picturing of an unforgivable sin and is overcome with guilt and self-condemnation, take a look at this comforting assurance we have from Ezekiel 18:23.

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” (Emphasis added) Furthermore Mrs. Eddy alerts us to what we have in store for each one of us. She says: “What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want: more we cannot have. This sweet assurance is the ‘Peace, be still’ to all human fears, to suffering of every sort.” (Mis. p. 307)

We have an everlastingly LOVING Parent, forever waiting for us to return from our ways in order to have all the good that awaits us. We leave something so precious behind when we waste time fearfully indulging the lies, feeling we know what to do and will find our way; when there is only ONE WAY, which is for us to give up “our way,” come back to find God, and humbly follow His directions.

If anything appears to be hindering our journey back, we can know it is a temporary mortal mind claim. It may present itself as pride, some lie that you are unworthy, it may accuse you that you did some unforgivable thing, it can aggressively argue that you cannot give up a habit, a false attraction, a false pleasure, it can insist on a physical claim as having a real origin, keep you afraid of it and make you rehearse the time, the how and when, etc.

If God is LOVE alone, and He is TRUTH, then anything unlovable cannot be true; therefore it is unreal and certainly something we can and must reject and return to what is real. There is no condemnation and no everlasting punishment. Let us return then to Love and live, since Love alone is Life!

I went through some very horrific experiences in my early life. Even though I remained as obedient to the Ten Commandments as I could, it never protected me from the sinful acts of others. Nor did it save me from wanting to take my own life to relieve the pain. It was always so difficult to comprehend the purpose for being obedient to the laws of God, if it was not going to make anything better. Moreover, it just increased my guilt, because it was impossible. I thought there was something wrong with me and after being told so many times that I don’t deserve to live, I settled to agree. That is where I was when I came into Christian Science, hating God for making the mountain too high.

When I spoke to my practitioner for the first time, she didn’t tell me I had to honor my parents, or condemn me for being a mess of misunderstanding. She said, “You are the daughter of the King and He loves you deeply.” GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND!! and I cried like a baby, because I knew, for the first time perhaps, that there was a God and He was Good. How could one, love-filled, statement make such a difference! It was so much more than words. It was the compassion, the silent protest, the courage to stand against all that I was believing to be true, without fear or doubt. It was Grace. It healed me, restored the years, brought endless gratitude and Joy, and blessed me with untold riches. When everything in my life was telling me there was no God, right there was God, telling me, “I am right here and always have been. Now put down that baggage and take My hand.” If there would not have been a mountain, I would never have reached out for help.

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s too good to be true.” I’ve even found myself thinking it and believing it on occasion.

A few days ago, the opposite thought came to me: “It isn’t good enough to be true!” This came from what I’m learning through Christian Science in this church about the unreality of evil and error, and the absolute reality of Truth and good.

What a great thought, and what a help it will be to learn to use this when faced with any negative and aggressive suggestions! The news, the internet, in any experience with others, we’re always exposed to things that are not good enough to be true. Declaring that if something isn’t good, it’s not from God and, therefore, is untrue, eliminates fear and negativity from our thoughts and our lives, and allows us to be better workers for God wherever He places us. So, if it isn’t good enough to be true, we don’t have to believe it or experience it!

I often used to feel helpless and disturbed while watching the news, thinking how terrible some situation was and that there was nothing I could do about it. Since coming to Plainfield, I’ve been learning about Christian Science, and about right thinking and watching. Now when something disturbs me, I know I can pray about it, and ask God what is the truth about the situation. Then I do a watch about it.

I’m especially grateful for having been taught the importance of not skirting the issue while watching, but of actively going after the error and seeing it undone. My practitioner has many times said to me that watches need to have the clout that the correct statements of Truth bring — and that this church has in abundance, from the Bible, the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, and those of the early workers.

Because of all this, I feel I understand a little more each day what it means to have dominion, and what it means to live without fear. Additionally, if claims of fear or helplessness try to enter in, I now have five years of training in this Science, and a bookshelf full of tools to help me combat those claims. And, of course, practitioner support, which has been absolutely essential to the whole process from the day I arrived, right through today.

There is no limit to the good God has in store for each one of us. Recently, I needed to park in a parking lot that is always overcrowded and difficult to find a place to park. There was an empty spot ahead of me, in a really good location, but another car pulled into it. At first I was tempted to feel irritated, but a thought came to me very strongly: “Good for him!” I was quite surprised, because that was not what I was thinking, but that thought kept coming — “Good for him. He deserved that spot.”

I drove slowly down another lane, and the same thing happened, with the same thought ringing in my head: “Good for him.” All the anxiety I had been feeling about finding a spot in time to get to my appointment left, and I felt a sense of peace.

Then it happened a third time; but this time as I drove closer, there was an empty spot right next to that car, and I pulled in. This space was even closer to the entrance where I needed to go than the first spot. I sat in my car for a moment, thanking God for the parking space and for the lesson that had just been presented to me.

There were so many lessons in that short time — a reminder to be grateful for another’s good, and not to covet what my “neighbor” has earned; to let go and trust God, remembering that His plan is always better than anything I could ever devise, and to remember that good is unlimited. When my neighbor receives some good, that good is available for everyone, including me.

I remembered reading something an early worker in Christian Science wrote that said, there is no limit to the number seven. No matter how many times the number seven is used, there is still plenty for everyone. And this is true of any needful thing. Whatever need we may have, God is abundantly supplying it, so we don’t need to feel anxious or fearful — God has already taken care of it, just trust Him.

There was a very strong hurricane recently in my area, with tornado warnings and flooding. I was on my way home from my office and was continuously praying about the situation, but at one point I felt I was being swallowed up in matter. The rain was so intense, along with lightning and tornado warnings going off on my cell phone to take cover immediately, that I actually started yelling at error: “You are a liar and the father of it. God is the only power, NOT YOU!” Then I thought of a story I had heard of Mrs. Eddy and one of her workers, in which Mrs. Eddy said she saw the face of God through the storm.

I arrived home and e-mailed my practitioner that I needed help. She gave me some truths to hold onto and said she would help. My husband was caught in a major traffic jam due to a tornado sighting. It came to me for my daughter and myself to listen to the Roundtable discussion from the past Sunday in which the topic was “Handling the Weather.” What an incredibly timely blessing! All of a sudden I felt a wonderful sense of Love enfolding us, along with the power of Truth. I felt so peaceful, and at that point my husband walked in and listened to the end of the church discussion.

The storm with all of its baggage had subsided, and the sun came out. I called the practitioner, completely overwhelmed with gratitude for her and for the love and care of our Father-Mother God, and for this wonderful beacon of light in the storm—as that is what this church is, a beacon light for all the world.

I told the practitioner that I realized from the Roundtable that we must keep pressing on moment by moment in work for ourselves and also for mankind because we are at war with matter, and it is fighting for its survival. We as Christian Scientists cannot let up and must stand guard.

A few years ago a healing happened in my home that I thought was remarkable.

When I was still in school, a friend of mine called one day to ask if she could come over to my apartment and use my computer for her assignment that was due the next day, so I invited her over. About an hour later, she called back to tell me she could not come because her son, Daniel, had fallen sick with a fever and was getting worse.

I know her son very well, and I like him a lot. He is a very good boy. I told her to come, and also to bring Daniel with her. I was living on the third floor at the time, and she had to carry him up there, as he was too weak to walk on his own. While in my apartment, I told her to lay him down on the couch in the living room and put the blanket on him. Then I told her to go ahead and do what she needed to do on the computer. I tried to make her focus her thought on that, and less on Daniel. I started praying for him, silently. I remember my friend glancing at me in disbelief, and smiling. Of course she did not understand what was taking place with her son, but she would later on.

By the time she was half done with her work, to her great surprise, Daniel was already running around the apartment, playing his favorite music. My friend was in awe. My only response to her was, “God has healed him.” Yes, God did. We can do nothing without Him. But with God, all healing is possible. And Daniel, who had been refusing food all day, joined us for dinner that evening. The mesmerism had been broken and he was completely healed. God’s healing presence is everywhere, and available every moment.

The healing reminded me of God’s ever-present love all around us, and always available when sought with an open heart. Hearts that seek and see good in the goodness of others, hearts that see God in all mankind, hearts that know no strangers — such hearts bring healing everywhere they are. This type of blessing is not limited to a certain few, all of us can experience it to some degree as we continue to seek opportunities to express God and His kindness.

When I was in college I participated in sports. During one game early in my first year, a player on the opposing team broke my leg, and it was deliberate. It created quite an imposition for me at school that year, and I had a hard time trying not to feel very angry toward him.

I physically recovered, and did fine through the rest of my school years; but I found it difficult to let go of this deep feeling of why someone would do this, and at times felt great anger about it. It bothered me for quite a while, until we moved to Plainfield. I started to work with a practitioner here who began to teach me what forgiveness was all about.

One of the things this practitioner taught me was that hatred only hurts the one who is hating. Mrs. Eddy writes, “hatred is a plague-spot that spreads its virus and kills at last.” (Mis. p.12) We forgive the sins of others, not for their good, but for our own good, as God forgives us.

It took me a while to really feel forgiveness for this person, but I realized I had to do so for my own good. I remember the day that I finally said, “Ok, whoever you are, wherever you are, I forgive you. You must have had a hard life that would cause you to do something like that, and for that I am sorry for you, and I forgive you.”

I will never forget the relief I felt releasing that burden of hatred from my shoulders. It was a liberating experience. So, I am very grateful to learn the importance of forgiveness, and to be able to forgive even those who seem to do the worst and most awful things.

A recent Bible Study, on September 15 entitled, Cast Out Demons, discussed the Bible account of Jesus’ healing of a man possessed with a demon, who could not be controlled and who did not live normally.

For 12 years I worked with children with behavioral challenges that made it difficult, or nearly impossible, for them to function normally, even with simple every day activities. When I found the Plainfield Church and began working with a practitioner here, I saw the profound influence of this Science of the Christ on my work environment. I am convinced that prayer that is Bible centered and with a clear understanding of Mary Baker Eddy’s teachings is the only true solution.  

Over the next couple of years I was brought to my knees with challenges in this work, and I am so grateful for the help of the practitioner that helped me give it all to God. I had great pride in my work and thought I was good at it, never really giving God the credit. At this time I found myself trying to manage situations where human effort was not enough, but this made me turn to God for help and see Him care for all the details in ways no person was able to accomplish.

I worked in a very professional environment with behavior management experts who were very caring. The families had access to the best research, trained experts, medical treatment, and other resources; but nothing could match the effect of the Christ thought brought to the environment. They were doing their very best, but only the Christ can reach and destroy these lies. The Bible Study helped me see these lies as impersonal demons of thought that Christ can cast out. I am grateful for the many ways I witnessed Christian Science in operation in this environment, such as peace restored, fear lessened, aggression calmed and in some cases completely diminished, greater obedience, more normal activities, skills gained quickly, order brought to chaos. This was new to me where before the difficulties were endured, expected, and managed as best as possible. 

The prayerful work was never done specifically for anyone but me. It was the prayers and teaching of the practitioner and the clear understanding of Christian Science about God’s creation that quieted the aggressive pictures that arose and met needs in practical, sometimes unexpected ways with various ages, backgrounds, diagnoses and causes. Truth was universal and cut through it all!

By learning this Science correctly and how to live it step by step in daily life, I have been gaining new views and trust in God.

“WATCH lest you accept the common notion that the small power represented by David’s little stone, overthrew a great power, called Goliath. David, as the visible representative and manifestation of the omnipotence of divine Mind, was the invincible giant, equipped with infinite power that overthrew Goliath, whose power lay wholly in deception through size.

“The trick of the mesmerism of sense testimony, is to reverse everything, magnifying the nothingness of error so that it seems like a giant, and belittling the power and presence of Spirit.” (Carpenter, Watching Point 153)

The name “Goliath” means “passage, revolution, heap.” As he stepped onto the battlefield every morning and evening, Goliath presented himself as a mountainous heap of intimidation.

Morning and evening, day after day, Israel listened to Goliath proclaiming himself as the way, the truth, and the life of Israel, as the supreme leader of a revolution not only against King Saul and his army, not only against the nation of Israel, but against the God of Israel Himself.

The picture of Israel’s king and army demoralized by fear demonstrates how an entire nation can fall under the collective, apathy-inducing spell of animal magnetism.

David, on the other hand, had spent many hours, days, months set apart, alone in the wilderness, tending sheep, practicing the presence of God, learning to listen to the still, small voice of the Spirit; learning that there is no presence or power apart from God; learning that the presence of anything unlike the Presence of Omnipresence, even the presence of a ferocious lion or bear, is not presence at all, but absence.

So when David, aligned with God, came out of the wilderness to Israel’s encampments in order to bring cornbread to his misaligned brothers, it was like the meeting of two opposing weather fronts. Yet David prevailed. The cringing collective consciousness of Israel’s army could not drag David into the bottomless foxhole of fear and apathy that they had dug for themselves.

“You must realize that harmony is the only reality, and that it has no opposite” — no Goliath. (Carpenter, Watching Point 125)

“One with God is a majority.”

One thing that we were taught here was from the “Glossary” chapter in Science and Health. We were given several definitions to memorize, one being the definition of God. We were taught to apply it to ourselves, in our watches, to our nation, and to our world. Mrs. Eddy’s definition of God is: “GOD. The great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence.” (S&H p. 587)

The all-knowing. If God is the all-knowing, I, as His reflection, am all-knowing. I know all that I need to know when I need to know it.

The all-seeing. As God is all-seeing, I, too, am all-seeing. I can see what is necessary for me to see. I have spiritual discernment to hear God’s voice and to judge righteous judgment.

The all-acting. All action is in Mind, and movement is in Mind. Therefore, all action is free, painless, and without restriction.

The all-wise. The only wisdom is from above; and, as I am God’s reflection, I can express that wisdom. I will know the wise and righteous thing to do in every circumstance that comes into my experience.

All-loving. I am the image of Love. God is Love, therefore I can express His love and feel His love and be a loving presence to all that I come into contact with.

These are just some of the ways we were taught to use this definition, to make it our own, to make it a reality so that we can live it and be it. Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Man is God’s image and likeness; whatever is possible to God, is possible to man as God’s reflection.” (Misc. p. 183)

I am grateful for this Truth, and to Mrs. Eddy for giving us Science and Health and Prose Works so that we can daily make it a living reality in our lives.

Back to the top of the page

Rise Above the Mist

by Peter Kidd

It’s uncommon to believe

Adam and his Madam, Eve,

Were doomed before the serpent hissed,

Due to a pernicious mist.

But it’s indisputable

God’s creation was complete.

Nothing else could ever exist —

Which brings me to that mist I mentioned.

If you’re mad you have to grapple

With disease or death or sin,

Don’t blame snakes or curse the apple —

Rise above the mist you’re in!

It turned all things upside down,

Covered the entire ground.

It obscured man’s origin,

Made it look like God made sin —

Instead of man the image of

A perfect God whose name is Love,

God became a man-like God —

And what resulted is quite fraudulent.

Perfect God could not be cruel

Or send us in a downward spin —

Stick to perfect God and you’ll

Rise above the mist you’re in.

See, the mist is, allegorically,

Thinking that is categorically wrong,

Confused, and dualistic —

A totally materialistic state of mind

that’s unreliable.

Learn your lessons from the Bible.

If you don’t, look what occurred —

With her vision so obscured,

Eve became susceptible

To a sneaky, talking reptile.

And the snake’s initial whisper

Soon became an awful din!

Don’t you tangle with the lisper —

Rise above, Rise above, Rise above,

The mist you’re in!

Back to the top of the page

Letters of Gratitude

I would like to sincerely and humbly express my gratitude to my heavenly Father for directing me to the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent website.

I had been struggling for such a long time with an erroneous thought being expressed in a Christian Science church in which I was a member. The congregation was split right down the middle on those who wanted to sell our church home out of desperate material thinking, and those who knew there was a right way to resolve the issues that had presented themselves, through God’s help and spiritual direction through prayer.

I found with the Plainfield Church that there was so much good being presented to the newcomer, whether it might be someone who knew very little about Christian Science or one who had been in Science for many years.

Once you begin reading the wonderful books and articles provided on the website, and listen to the Bible Lessons, the profound Roundtable discussions, the Sunday services or the Wednesday evening meetings with their readings and testimonies of healing, you cannot help but experience a comforting and uplifting thought into the spiritual realm of living.

This church is on a wonderful mission directed and supported by God to reach out to anyone, anywhere looking for the truth and spiritual guidance. Its foundation is based on the pure teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discover and Founder of Christian Science. The church, with its dedicated and supportive practitioners, is here to help, no matter where you are.

I am so grateful to be a member now, and for the progress I have made since discovering this wonderful church and its website.

I have been listening to some of your archived Roundtable and Bible Study sessions, and am so grateful for all I have been learning. It’s sort of how I hoped going through class might be. I was very disappointed with “class,” but feel I am really putting that behind me by listening to Plainfield broadcasts. I listened to one where you were inviting people to talk about things they have overcome. I certainly have a lot of room for improvement in not revisiting and punishing myself for things, sometimes quite small, which I feel I could have done better in the past, and by letting go of distressing situations in the past which have happened to me.

With much gratitude.

Your library on YouTube is really wonderful and transformatively effective. It puts the joy into studying scientific Truth.

Thank you for your website, which is very helpful and accessible to the reader and to the Christian Scientist. I have downloaded the application for membership form to request membership in the Christian Science Church, Independent in Plainfield, NJ. I consider myself a Christian Scientist.

It would be wonderful to be a member of your church.

Thanks to this wonderful church in Plainfield for all you are doing to share Christian Science with the world. Mary Baker Eddy said, if I could take the hand of all those that hate me and lead them. Such a heart of so much humility, and childlike trust, you can do nothing else but love her.

Thank you for your church. I am 95 and was introduced to Christian Science in 1958. I was cured of alcoholism in 1979 and have been sober 39 years.

I am not a member of the Mother Church or any church, so I am very grateful to find your church is Independent.

As a lifelong Christian Scientist, I have had many, many wonderful healings using Christian Science. About two years ago, I found the Plainfield Church website. It was exactly what I had been looking for, for years. Plus it was free. I find the website very well organized, very easy to use. It has publications written by many of the early workers in Christian Science, plus most of these publications can be downloaded for free. How great is that? 

Further, they have their own version of the weekly Bible Lesson. I try to read it every day. This website has helped me boost my study of Christian Science by using these publications. I am so very grateful to have found this very useful study website on Christian Science.

I learned about Christian Science in 1997. At the time I was looking for a church or a religion that could teach me about God. I wanted to know if He was real. When I started reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, I knew I found the religion that would help my children and me to know God. I went to Sunday service, and my children attended Sunday school at the local Christian Science branch church. Both my children were doing very well; and for the first time in a long time, I was really happy. We were learning to go to God for everything.

There were some crucial changes in our lives, and I felt as though I wasn’t making any progress in my spiritual journey. A lot of problems were coming my way. To make matters worse, my church didn’t seem as good and as supportive as I thought they were. Ultimately, I decided to leave my church, but I never doubted Christian Science itself. I knew in my heart that is the only way to bring us closer to know God as All.

A few years later in my desperation, I searched the internet for blogs or articles that really could teach me about Christian Science; I was seeking for someone to give me a word of encouragement or a sense of hope! One evening, I was reading reviews of Science and Health on Amazon and I came across a review that mentioned that she only read the 1910 edition of Science and Health and the weekly Bible Lesson from Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent in Plainfield, NJ. This immediately intrigued me. I read the review several times.

The next day I went to Plainfield Christian Science Church website. I read as much as I could and listened for days to the archives of the Roundtables and Bible Studies. I felt God’s love. I finally was awakening to discover a new world of Christian Science that I didn’t even know existed. For this, I am extremely grateful to God for guiding me here.

Thank you to all of you!

While I received a wonderful, strong basis from my Sunday school teacher from many years ago, I felt tremendously confused and conflicted over the years through nearly every other connection with Christian Science. I reached a point of needing to make a nearly complete break with Christian Science, even going so far as to check out a group that meets for “former Christian Scientists,” a support group type of thing. It’s easy to understand why such a group would come to be. But I want Christian Science.

Bringing Bible studies in the light of Christian Science to the world is a priceless gift. Please let the Plainfield Christian Science Independent group know that their efforts are felt and treasured by me; and if by me, then doubtless by many, many others like me who are quietly, and very gratefully with you all as we sort through and re-view over our past Science experiences.

Please accept my donation. I am very new to Christian Science and love your website and YouTube pages.

I have been healed from years of chronic back pain and chiropractors through reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

I am very grateful for your site, presence, and devotion. Finally I have found the Truth.

Years ago when I first saw a copy of the old Christian Science Sentinel with the image of two women holding lamps, I secretly wished that image could somehow be restored. Fast forward to finding the Plainfield Church and learning about true Christian Science. So it was the greatest joy to unwrap the new Love is the Liberator magazine with its theme of Forgiveness, and on its cover, the beautiful image of the two women holding lamps! I read it from cover to cover, and it filled me with uplifting inspiration. What a beautiful thing to behold! Thank you to all who put this blessed publication together.

Please find enclosed a donation to the church to be used where it is needed.

My mother and I are very grateful for the wealth of articles, Lessons, services, and Roundtables available on YouTube. They’re helping us a lot, and I consider this service to be a vital lifeline for humanity. Please accept our sincere gratitude to all the readers and members of Plainfield Christian Science Church, and thank you all for being there for us all, and the dedicated work that is being done to uplift and bring us all to a true understanding of immortal and Eternal consciousness.

I would like to offer my Thanksgiving gratitude to the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent. This holy church is a beacon of Truth and Love to the world…a place where God comes first because of Mrs. Eddy and her discovery of the Christ Science. A place to find true worship and work for all God has to offer. A place to study and learn and share. A grand place, and I am grateful.

My family and I found this past Sunday Service and every aspect of it from the beginning to the very end incredibly inspiring and therefore I felt I must express my gratitude for it, never do I want to take a service like this for granted, it is so important to express gratitude and mine overflows to every member of this church who through their love, devotion, dedication, inspiration and prayerful work have helped to make the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent such a blessing to anyone anywhere who is searching for the truth of being and the love of God.

It is fulfilling Mrs. Eddy’s definition of church which is as follow, “The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.”

What a wonderful and glorious gift from our Father Mother God.

Back to the top of the page

Testimonies of Healing

Devils Cast Out

from C. T. in New Jersey

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Today, as yesterday, Christ casts out evils and heals the sick.” I can attest that this is true. Anybody who feels tormented with a life of failures, repeated agonies, wrong directions taken, or just feeling like they are being pursued, Christ does still cast out devils and heal the sick.

At one time I was in a very dark place, and ended up having a nervous breakdown. How I got there was probably by not knowing God as well as I should.

A practitioner and teacher here in Plainfield healed me. God, through her prayers, cast out the devils that I had—devils of talk, devils of suffering. I finally felt like I was not alone.

Once the devils are gone, you have an empty house, or consciousness, and you need to fill it with Truth. Fill it so full that nothing else has place. That was when I learned about God, and began to know God — and to know who I am as His child. Have nothing in your thought but “God, what next?” Then He will lead you. There is no place for devils to find residence. No torment or heading down the wrong ways for more than a moment can occur.

I have tripped and fallen, then I got back up. No place else have I learned this regimen. It is for anyone who wants to be strong and effective, and feel the peace of God. This is the place where you can find a permanent connection with God. You will know that it can never be taken away. I thank Mary Baker Eddy for this and our teacher, and practitioners now.

Hives Healed

from B. S. in California

I wish to express my gratitude for being healed of breaking out into hives. This used to happen one or two times a year. When this issue began, I would get help from a Plainfield Christian Science practitioner, and it would go away after just a few days.

Gradually I began to notice that before I broke out, there was a “tell,” as they say. I would notice an itch in a certain spot; and if I was aware and on guard, I would declare against it immediately, and very strongly, and it would not even start. Finally I realized that this would occur when my thought was very disturbed! That was the root of the problem. Tracing it back to the mental cause, I became more aware of my thinking, and careful to control it.

The episodes grew much less frequent until I realized I was completely healed. Only Christian Science and practitioner help were able to get to the bottom of the issue, heal it, and teach me to get my thought back to God.

“Bowels of Mercies”

from L. S. in Pennsylvania

I am grateful for a healing I had during a Sunday Roundtable class titled, “I and My Father Are One.” I had arrived at church with a stomach problem that I had suffered with the night before. During the class the teachers discussed, from the Bible, Colossians 3, verse 12: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies.” That brought home a lesson that I needed.

We were asked, “How merciful are you?” The instruction included the need to pity rather than resent, and that resentment blocks God’s love and is a poison that you give to yourself.

It had been a very busy weekend, and I hadn’t taken the time to pray about being upset by another’s behavior. By recognizing this sin of bitterness, repenting, and filling thought with the truths shared, a peace washed over me and the distressed stomach symptoms all disappeared. I had come only able to drink sips of water, and left eating a snack and had a normal meal that evening. I realized during this class that resentment was not how I wanted to use my time, nor was it worth the loss of peace.

I am grateful for the practical Christian Science taught here and my practitioner’s support, that is helping me learn how to face upsetting situations instead of suppressing or reacting to them. After many years of searching for help, it is this correct understanding of the Science of Christ that has had all the answers. I am so grateful for the teachings of Christ Jesus, Mrs. Eddy’s writings that are based on his work and the Bible, and this church that demonstrates it.

The Father’s Business

from M. A. in California

Due to some financial issues, I had decided to work a second job, working for one of the large ride share companies that allow you to turn a personal car into a taxi service business.

On one particular day, I was not getting any customers contacting me. This was worrisome because the agreement I had with this company gave me a weekly quota of customers. I was only a few hours away from having to meet that quota, and it looked highly unlikely that I would meet that deadline.

I pulled over to park, and reached for a book I found out about from the Plainfield Church that I’ve been bringing with me lately, Christian Science, Its “Clear Correct Teaching” and Complete Writings by Herbert W. Eustace, C.S.B.

In that book, there is a treasure trove of examples of how to think metaphysically about certain challenges and I found a section called “Poor Business.” To paraphrase, it explains that the only real business is the activity of the one Divine Mind, and that activity can only be as perfect as God is perfect. There can be no surplus or any deficiency of anything that God has made. Everything is in its right place, and the real job of anyone in any business is to actively, diligently, go about their Father’s business.

I spent only a few minutes praying with these ideas before I felt a strong sense of reassurance that I had gotten what I needed for that situation. I then turned my car back on and got back on the road.

Several minutes later, I started getting called by customers, one after another after another. The calls didn’t stop for the rest of that morning, until I finally realized I had met the quota I needed.

As someone who was raised to be a card-carrying member of the mainstream C.S. Boston organization, I know, had I still been under the delusion that they had the final say on Christian Science, I never would have been independently minded enough to read something like Herbert  Eustace’s book. I’ve learned through the independent Plainfield Church, that the “Authorized Literature” label that the Boston organization uses to discredit anything it doesn’t control is completely fraudulent.

I am very grateful for the Plainfield Church and the moral courage it has shown, in making authentic Christian Science available to the whole world.

Trusting in God’s Care

from S. A. in Maryland

A few months back after a weekend away, I came home to a mini flood in my kitchen. As a relatively new homeowner, I initially had no idea what to do, since the damage was pretty substantial. The water leak appeared to have gushed all weekend and damaged flooring, cabinets, drywall, and the crawlspace insulation. As we worked to mop up water, I did silently pray for guidance but found it hard to quiet my thought amidst the fear that I was facing a considerable home repair bill that I could not afford.

Being a Sunday evening, I texted a friend who owns a roofing company, for some guidance. My friend from the roofing company calmly explained that this situation was exactly why I had home insurance. He urged me to call and file a claim. I did call, and my insurance company sent a wet-vac company to vacuum the water and finally stop the leak. They set up several industrial fans and a dehumidifier to begin the drying process. Between the stress and the noise, I barely got any sleep that night.

The next day I was able to talk to my practitioner, and she reminded me that the home was in God’s care and everything would be sorted accordingly. When the project manager said they would shortly start the demolition project, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Surely this was the end of my cozy little home.

The insurance adjuster was scheduled, and the practitioner reminded me that the adjuster could only be fair in his assessment and that I could not be left lacking. Additionally, she told me that God would send me the right contractor, which He did. This contractor did the work for less than the adjuster’s estimate, and I was able to use the remainder of the insurance money to insulate my attic. My cabinets have been now repaired; I have new flooring, a sealed crawlspace, a fresh coat of paint, plus a well-insulated attic. Early on it became evident that this experience would teach me trust in God’s care, and it’s done exactly that.

I am very grateful for the loving support of the practitioner, and feel incredibly blessed to have been led to this church where Christian Science is more than a nice theory, but a way of life that always produces the right result. The Lord did perfect that which concerneth me.

Tumor Removed Through Prayer

from B. B. in Florida

I was in such a dark place for a long time, feeling lost, scared, angry, ill, and utterly heartbroken. At the darkest hour I contacted a practitioner in Plainfield Church. I found the website from listening to a reading of Martha Wilcox on YouTube.

Within just a few days of calling the practitioner, a large painful tumor was expelled from the body and I was able to dress and go to work without discomfort. It was an amazing demonstration, but the most wonderful thing was that I felt a joy I never felt before. I became aware of my true being. Many other blessed demonstrations of Truth have manifested for which I am truly grateful. Now, when the “mist” seems to rise again, I know where to find the light. 

Thanks be to our Father-Mother God, Christian Science, and all of you at Plainfield Church for everything. 

Back to the top of the page

Announcements

When Plainfield Church first became independent, we were asked, “How will you survive? What will you read?” As you can see below, through the grace of God, we have survived very well, thank you — and flourished!

We began by writing our own Bible Lessons, and then Independent Christian Scientists from all over the world began sending us writings by early Christian Science workers that were not available anywhere else. And we grew from there — and continue to grow.

Our church book store is growing! We have just published a book of Lectures on Christian Science, given by Peter V. Ross. This version is accurate and true to the original, just as Mr. Ross first published it. These lectures are wonderfully inspiring, and cover a variety of subjects. His wonderful “plain talking” reaches people at every level, encouraging and healing. This book is available in paperback version from Plainfield Church for $18.00, postage included.

We will be publishing our church Calendar again this year. It is in page-a-day format, each page containing a quote from Christian Science workers, and from others, that will inspire you, make you think, or make you laugh. Please order your copy, either through the church website, or by sending a check to our Clerk. The price is $15.00, postage included.

We will be having our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service on Monday, December 24, at 8:00 p.m. This service will be broadcast live through our teleconference number, over the Internet, and YouTube. We warmly invite everyone to join us for this holy time, either in person here in Plainfield, or electronically.

Our church services are broadcast live on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, and our Wednesday evening testimony meetings at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time. These services are available over the internet on our church website, plainfieldcs.com, through our teleconference phone number 908-768-2169, and over our YouTube channel. We look forward to welcoming you to our congregation!

“When one sees that Christian Science is the only way, he is ready for church membership, and there is no other requirement.” — Mary Baker Eddy

This is the only requirement for membership in Plainfield Church. We welcome everyone who wishes to become a member and work for God to send in an application, which you can find under the “Members” tab on our website. Or send an email to our clerk at: clerk@plainfieldcs.com.

Our goal was, and still is, to get the Word of God out to people all over the world who need this pure, unadulterated Science, as we did, and still do. So you will see that much of what we provide on our website, plainfieldcs.com, is free. Please feel free to browse through all that we have there. You don’t even have to tell us who you are—we warmly welcome everyone!

But there are expenses involved in maintaining a website, and in caring for our church home and our church services. So if you are helped by what you find here, and you wish to show your gratitude, please feel free to use the “donate” button on the website. It would be greatly appreciated!

Back to the top of the page

Painting by Luanne Tucker

Light has no shadow. "God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5

Tenets of Christian Science

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,
by Mary Baker Eddy, pages 496-497

The following is a brief exposition of the important points, or religious tenets, of Christian Science:—

1.     As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.

2.     We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God’s image and likeness.

3.     We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.

4.     We acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man’s unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.

5.     We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.

6.     And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.

A note about the lighthouse sketch by Luanne:

Boston Light — little Brewster Island (outer Boston Harbor), Massachusetts

Boston Light was the first light station in North America and is the country’s oldest continuously used lighthouse site. The original structure, built in 1716, was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. Rebuilt in 1783, it has been called “the ideal American lighthouse.” Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, it is the only manned lighthouse in the United States.

“Publish the Word”

Broadcast the Truth

“Freely ye have received, freely give”