Arizona republican., 1919-08-04

itual understanding According to popular theology, if the gold seeker profess his belief in the presence of gold on his claim, that profession will render him rich and happy. Christian Science teaches that the belief of the seeker must be based upon Principle, the facts Of being, that he must sup | port that belief or profession with sci entific proof, and that the gold he gets, the truth he demonstrates enriches him. Because Truth is infinite present ev- anywhere and all the time. the gold of the Truth seeker is always at hand in hmitless abundance and needs only to be appreciated. understood, utilized. to be available, for that eliminates error. The Christian Scientist then. is not an alchemist who would trans mute base metal into gold; he is a true scientist who perceives the ever present gold of Gods infinite goodness. and separating it in consciousness rom the dross, the nothingness of that which seems to be apart from God. he proves the allness of good Clearly his prayer is not profession or petition. 1t is appreciation and utilization of | good.
 The characters of the Bible who stand out most prominently are those who understood best and most fully proved the practical. actual power of prayer. From the standpoint of Chis- tlanity the practicality of prayer is not an open question. Through prayer Jesus did essentially all the important things that mortals spend their lives trying to accomplish on smaller scale and in an inferior way: besides all this. l he did many other things that are gen erally considered so far beyond human ken that they have colored the popular estimate of all his works with the belief 1 that they are supernatural First. in l the extent of the results accomplished | and probably in importance he con- | quered sin, healed disease and weak ness of all kinds, and overcame death. Apparently he considered money of little importance, but he proved con- | trol over it, so far as it seemed desir- able He fed multitudes from what seemed an insufficient supply and turned water into wine. He proved the power of Mind to move the body. just as it moves thought, with an ease and 1 speed that the fastest aeroplane does 1 not rival. Apparently he applied the same law when he walked on the Sea | Of Galilee and joined his disciples in a storm tossed ship. for Johns Gospel records that, immediately the shin
 
 was at the land whither they went No one else has equaled the unseful ness or the magnitude of his accom- plishments Some avowed Christians l try to avoid the issue by holding that his example is not practical now: but that is infidelity for he declared that repetition of his works was proof of fidelity to his teaching
 Truly to pray is to draw near to 1 God, to good which leads away from evil. Repeating evil beliefs magnifies them and is harmful. Evil should re- ceive only the intelligent denial that | it is potent or real Declaring what one knows is good, recognizing it's su l prenle power as an expression of Prin ciple, living consistently with that declaration, these are proofs in them l selves of practical prayer, and they heal transform, and inspire In NO and Yes (p. 39) by Mrs. Eddy. we read: True prayer is not asking God l for love; it is learning to love. and to include all mankind in one affection. Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us. Prayer begefs an awakened desire to be and do good