The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1916-03-18
HOME
Written for the
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

In defining the word Jerusalem"
in the Glossary of her epoch-makng
work, Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy sets
forth, as she so often does, first the
view of the carnal mind and then
that of spiritual understanding. In
the latter sense we find the words,
Home, heaven" Heaven is the type
and symbol of spiritual consciousness,
as handed down through the inspired
word of the Scriptures Therefore
the highest concept of home associates
it definitely and finally with Spirit
and not with matter Yet every mans
home and every woman's tends to
take on material form. and 1t needs
the true idea of home to come to the
earthly home in order to hallow it
with the joys of heaven. OF this
human home the Discoverer and
Founder of Christian Science writes,
Home Is the dearest spot on earth,
and it should be the centre. though
not the boundary. of the affections"
(Science and Health. p. 5SD 1t would
be hard to imagine a more practical
and helpful Interpretation than is thus
conveyed. Without sacrificing any
thing worthy, protective or desirable
i'm the human sense of home; without
calling for any surrender of the affec-
tions, Christian Science bids those
who love their homes extend this
blessing by operating from a safe cen
ter 1t is possible to take into an
overwhelming circle the pilgrims who
are momentarily adrift, to reach out
hand to those lost i'm the mist of
personal sense, to include within the
radius of action of such a home. the
stumbling in the dark or staggering
under burdens Of their own making.
The right idea of home was never
more needed than at present to save
mankind from its evil counterfeit
For one reason or another, associated
with shifting social and world condi.
tiCns, the old-fashioned home is dis.
appearing and the new and true home,
is not yet generally established. Left
to its own devices. the earthly home
easily falls into error of sense and
of the affections, but of temper and
backbiting. of self-indulgence and
pride, of envy and tyranny, in a word,
a center of qualification for the tive
physical senses. instead of for the
cultivation of wisdom and purity,
love and holiness. AS the foundations
of the earthly home are shaken by
the changes now manifesting them.
selves in economic conditions, the
straying individuals must be given a
sheltering perception of the true
home. Christian Science shows each
one how 10 establish a home for him.
self by living consciously in eternal
Life. Truth and Love. Then such a
one can never be without protection,
and. even if seemingly bereft of
friends and reduced to human lone,
illness. he or she can be spiritually
aware of the presence and power of
infinite good, and realize the encir,
cling safety of home.
As in the earthly home the mascu-
line and feminine qualities Of mind
can contribute naturally TO each
others support and Wilderness, so in
the divine understanding of home
courage, wisdom. strength are natur,
ally welded 20 love and purity. Beau.
ty and virtue, -aphysically under.
stood, are correlated and mutually
attractive. Thus. in that spiritual
consciousness which is the true home
all the qualities of true being are TO
be found, sustained. nourished and
cherished by the divine Mind.
Then what is it to be spiritually at
home? Obviously it is to be conscious
only of the qualities of Spirit and not
of matter. "To be carnally minded
would be equivalent to being absent