Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-17

Inc WOTQ personality COlllGS lIoil a
Latin word meaning a mask and points
back to the custom Roman actors had
of wearing a mask that hid their iden-
tity. So the carnal or false selfhood,
the Adam man, hides the real man. In
dividuality, on the other hand, means
that which cannot be divided-the pure
gold from which all dross or not-gold
is absent, gold from which nothing need
to be taken away; the perfection of
gold, the real thing, it's true identity.
This word individuality is therefore
used in Christian Science to indicate
mans spiritual identity, his eternal
/ selfhood.
! An inquirer once said stumbling at
this point, How can l give up the hu-
man self? 1t is the me- of me, how
| shall | exist at all?" The reply took
the form of a rather broad generaliza-
ton which seemed, however, to give the
needed clue. whatever is wrong in
/ your me is all that Christian Science
asks you to give up; whatever is truly
good is of --our eternal identity ana
| cannot be destroyed" This inquirer
! thereupon concluded that she had
! caught a wrong impression of Christian
! Science teaching and very wisely de-
/ cided to study the textbook carefully
| till she learned for herself what Mrs.
| Eddy actually teaches on such points
The natural result was that she be-
came an earnest Christian Scientist
Find True Identity
In practical experience those who
study and apply the teachings Of
Christian Science find that through
their endeavor to lay aside the selfish
earthly nature, full of self-will and
f,lf-righteousness even when not open
ly sinful, their true identity does ac-
tually begin to appear. individuality
is not lessened, as they may have an
ticipated; it is on the contrary made
| more marked As Isaiah knew when
he said Thou wilt keep him in per-
| feet peace whose mind is stayed on
! Thee" the relief from fear which comes
| through basing ones mentality In the
/ divine Mind is alono enough to account
! for the blossoming forth in brightness
and freedom, in ease and originality
of expression and execution, which all
who come honestly to Christian Science
note in themselves. 1t is in fact the
worldly thought which seeks a con-
formity to type which makes people all
| alike. Fashion is one of the clearest
| examples of this. What rational eX-
planation can be given for the dread
| which both men and women otten
have of being "out of style? The de-
! sire to appear like our neighbors' TO
! have and to do what they have ana
| do. seems to govern in a dozen direc-
! tions of human thought, and there is
! many a class among mankind that is
easily recognizable from its tricks or
/ manner and expression. When these
| people come into Christian Science,
| however the earmarks of class begin to
| disappear. Ease and courtesy of bear
| ing and better English are among the
| lesser signs of Improvement which
many people show from the study or
this purely spiritual religion that Is
also exact Science. In brief, people
begin to be themselves, instead of that
product of mortal birth and environ
ment which masquerades as man. They
begin to break out of the limitations
which material law imposes on them
in a hundred ways. Individual gifts
and gracious traits of character, in
herited from God rather than from
earthly parents find freer, more spon-
taneous expression, and love, which
adds charm and power even to human
| traits, pervades the very atmosphere
of every true representative of these
| teachings "Tor love is of God and
every one that loveth is born of God
and knoweth God"
Mrs. Eddy's Insight
The difference between genius and
talent has always been held to be rec
ognizable. Exemplars of genius do
something that has not been done before
They bring a new idea to the world.
People of talent are more or less sue
cessful students and imitators of some
great master, and their work as follow
ers of his school is all more or less
alike. When an understanding comes
| that Mind is one and that every man
may reflect the power and beauty and
| individuality of the one Mind. God,
each man finds his work taking on
more of the freedom, power and indi-
viduality which we have ascribed to
genius. Mrs Eddy says in "Retrospec-
ton and Introspection" Up. 49, library
edition.: Limitations are put off in
proportion as the heshly nature dis
appears and man is found in the re-
| Election Of Christ" The Christian Sci