The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-11-17

Impressive group picture of Moth,
 in Boston, but one God, there is but one Mind Let this divine Mind govern your thinking and 1t will control all that your thoughts rest upon. ~
 Students of Christian Science when they become members of The Mother Church, subscribe to ths Tenets of. that church, among which Is the promise to pray and strive earnestly and continually for that Mind to be in them that was also in Christ Jesus. Jesus was thu human concept, but the Christ, with which he was endowed, is the spirit of God, the divine manifestation oi God which is as present today witt us as 1t was with him centuries ago It was the Christ spirit which wat in Jesus that made him one with God, giving him power to do many mighty works in his Fathers name Some may think that Jesus was es4 pecially endowed with spiritual power, not intended for anyone else; but Jesus himself has assured Us re- peatedly that If we believe on him and understand his teachings, w can do the very things he has done
 That which sins, suffers, and dies Mrs. Eddy names mortal mind, and among other things she desginates 1t as Q myth, unreality, because 1t is the opposite of divine Mind Mortal mind has not one quality of substance, life, intelligence, or truth. It can in no way enable man to be- hold himself as Gods reflection Matter can take no cognizance of Spirit, for matter is the supposed creation of mortal mind.
 It is through reason, that most active of human faculties, and through spiritual sense, that one learns to distinguish between divine Mind and mortal mind and when one recognizes that man is governed and controlled by God, good, divine Mind, he sees that he need no longer be subject to the vagartes of mortal mind.
 Inharmonious conditions are not always the result of sinful thinking, but they are the result of erroneous thinking, wrong reasoning, and the place where one needs to start, con- tinue, and finish working for correc- ton, reformation, and adjustment is right within himself his own thinking. Tn that domain he reigns supreme. He may censor what comes in and what goes out and as he does this he need not be surprised if he finds things bright ering up around him.
 Do not be reluctant to look within. Do not be too sure that all the wrong conditions are on the outside, or that if you had different environment, better atmosphere or more opportunities, more con- genial associates, everything would be all right. The change for better must first take place within you within your consciousness: for wherever you go, and whatever you do, you take this consciousness with you which determines your outward experiences.
 There was a young woman who when she began the study of Chris tian Science, was suffering from physical ailments, eliminating II, what was pronounced by the family physician to be nervous break down, followed by the declaration that she probably would never be strong enough to lead normal or active life. Very soon after she be- gan to study Christian Science she realized that what she really was suffering from was bad temper believed to have been inherited This she had often regretted, but not knowing how to correct 1t, as she grew to womanhood she had allowed many unlovely traits of character to develop and fasten themselves upon her, together with the attending physical .discords. She saw that her part in the healing was to strive to eliminate this ugly disposition, which she set about ear- nestly to do. For her 1t seemed a long process, but through the striv- ing she grew in spiritual under standing, and when the demon of evil temper had been cast out, her health was restored and she became Q useful and active citizen. This woman told me that those years of struggle had taught her what 1t really means to strive, and that the growth in spiritual understanding was much more precious to her than the physical harmony which had re- suited.
 Prayer
 Christians rightfully believe that man approaches God through prayer. But in that hour of trial when one seeks to pray he may cry as Job did, "Oh that I knew where I might find himl" If one does not understand what God is, he does not know when he has found Him.
 As long as there have been re- ligious creeds and doctrines they have included prayer, but the con- cept of prayer has been as varying and divergent as the creeds them- selves.
 Since Christian Science accepts Christ Jesus as the Way-shower, we believe that we can have no better example than he has given us In this respect. When the need arose, Jesus withdrew from the world to commune with his heavenly Father, to draw closer to Him. His prayers were an acknowledgement of Gods goodness and power, and he never doubted Gods willingness and abil- ity to provide all good for His chil- dren. In teaching his followers how to pray. Jesus aid. "And all things. whatsoever ye hall ask in prayer. believing, ye sh.Nll receive" From this we may reasonably assume that Jesus prayer was not one of peti- tion only. He usually prefaced his prayers with thanks to God: he prayed the prayer of gratitude.
 Gratitude plays such an irnpor- tant part in our experiences that it