The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-06

for 1901, Mrs. Eddy wrote (p. 19), Prayer brings the seeker into closer proximity with divine Love, and thus he finds what he seeks. the power of God to heal and to save." Christian Science shows that it is possible to gain so clear 8 sense of the allness of God that thought spontaneously rejects as unreal everything unlike Him. That is true prayer, and though we may not immediately reach or sustain such an altitude of thought, 1t is an ideal which is at- tainable, and to attain to it fully would be unceasing prayer. We can at least begin to exercise such prayer now. Good results are bound to follow. Mrs. Eddy writes Science and Health, p. 261), Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts"
 There are three qualities which play an essential part in the prayer of spiritual understanding as taught in Christian Science. They are faith, gratitude and unself1shness.
 It is not a blind faith that we need, but reasoned and intelligent conviction of the power of scientific right thinking to destroy the false beliefs of material existence. True gratitude recognizes thankfully the infinite goodness and presence of God even before prayer is answered. That was the gratitude expressed by Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, when, before he called Lazarus forth from the tomb, he said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me-" Un- Selfishness is part of all true prayer. a selfishness such as our Master displayed in that wonderful prayer of tenderness and love for his followers throughout all time, recorded in the Gospel of John, For their Sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth" As faith, grati- tude and unselfishness come to characterize our prayers, they will grow nearer to those of Christ Jesus, whose prayers are described in Science and Health (p. 12) as deep and conscientious protests of Truth, of mans likeness to God and of mans unity with Truth and Love-"
 The only basis for communion with God is the fact of His ever presence. With Christian Scientists, spiritual communion with Love is experienced as they become con- scious that God and man, divine Mind and its idea, can never for moment be divided.
 The object of communion with God should not be merely to find escape from our own troubles and difficulties, but to gain that spiritual inspiration and consciousness of Gods nearness which will enable us to help our fellow man and the whole world. Through communion we seek to reeve that which we may both keep eternally and also share. We cannot give until we have some thing to bestow, and in communion with God we find that which is real and true, that which is alone worth giving.
 Receptiveness of heart and mind soonest gains communion with Love Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 5O5), Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts con- sciousness and leads into all truth" God, out of the inexhaustible re- sources of His infinite Being, is for ever bestowing the understanding of Himself and of His ever-presence. It is our part to accept that under standing. We shall accept it more readily and more fully as we learn to listen to God. The carnal mind is constantly laundering or whisper ing to us thoughts which contest the allness of God: suggestions of indifference to Gods will and to the needs of humanity; suggestions of hatred, disloyalty, self-condemna- tion; suggestions that life is at the mercy of chance, of disease, of death. AS we learn to listen to the voice of God alone we shall cease to hear the tumult or the murmur- ing of evil, and its false suggestions will fade from our experience. The infinite voice of Truth silences the clamor of the carnal mind. The ac- ceptance of what is true is the na- tural and spontaneous rejection of what is not true.
 There need be no question as to when, and where, and how we may hear the voice of God. God is speak ing, is revealing Himself, to this age through the teachings of Chris tian Science, through the under standing of the Bible which Chris tian Science imparts. He is reveal ing Himself to all men as the heal ing and saving divine Principle, Love.
 To become conscious of God as Principle, as eternal ever-present Love, means the destruction, the healing, of disease, sin, and sorrow; it means deliverance from the pen- alties of the past and from the threats of the future; it means the unity of all men in a brotherhood where duty and freedom are recon oiled; it means the kingdom of heaven within us. Mary Baker Eddy sums up what 1t means in her Mis- cellaneous Writings" (p. 263) when she says. Always bear in mind that
 His presence, power and peace meet all human needs and reflect all