The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-11-18

tual grown OF those Who study 1t.
Our first Lesson-Sermon is on
God, and naturally our understand
ing of Him will be immeasurab1y
broadened by a study of that Les
son. Sacrament is spiritually ex-
planned, and the Lords Supper and
his crucifixion are seen in their
true significance.
There are six Lessons in the next
group, which have as their subjects
six synonyms Of God. These syn
onyms are Life, Truth, Love, Mind,
Soul, and Spirit. According to Mrs.
Eddy, they are 1.-THE same in es-
sence, though multiform in office"
(Science and Health, p. 331). Con-
sequently, that which makes one
Lesson distinctive from another is
its office. Life is understood to be
eternal and deathless. The office
of Truth is to express the law which
communicates Gods healing mes
sage to humanity. (See Science and
Health, 482:27,29) Love is the full
filling of that law, destroying all
fear and supplying all needs. Since
Mind is God, there can be but one
Mind. '"The primal and eternal
quality Of infinite Mind" is intelli-
gence or understanding (Science
and Health, p. 469). Soul is revealed
as divine OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in
the body. Soul includes the spiri-
tual senses and is the healer of the
so-called material senses. Esprit is
symbolized by strength, presence,
and power, and also by holy
thoughts, winged with Love" (Sci-
ence and Health, p. 512).
The next two Lessons are on
Christ Jesus and Man. The study
Of these Lessons enables one to
mark the distinction between Christ
and generic man. Jesus is explain
ed as the son of Mary, who more
nearly expressed the Christ or Son
of God than any other human be-
ing. Man is the family name for
all ideas,-the sons and daughters
Of God''; (Science and Health. p.
515.
Certain contrasting pairs of
terms are the Lessons next consid-
cred. Substance is found to be
spiritual, consequently never liable
to loss or depletion. Matter is ex-
posed as an illusion of sense, FORM
ed by delusion of belief. Reality
is found to be only in that which
expresses God. Unhealthy is the
term applied to all that would op-
pose God. Sin, disease, and death
are proved unreal. The doctrine of
atonement unfolds mans atone
ment with God. What happens af-
ter the mortal experience called
death is explained in the Lesson
Probation after Death" Everlast-
ing punishment is denied, for
punishment ceases with the ceasing
of sin. The allegory of Adam and
fallen man is shown to be a myth.
Mortals are found to be the coun-
terfeits Of immortals, who express
the eternal nature of God. Soul and
body are explained as opposites,
Soul being God, while material
body is the fleshly sense Of self
to be laid aside for the spiritual.
Ancient and modern necromancy,
alias mesmerism and hypnotism,
are denounced as subtle unseen in
fluences of evil embracing false
theology, astrology, spiritualism,
hyponotism, and other human
PHILOSOPHERS.
The Lesson God the Only Cause
and Creator explains clearly that
Principle, icluding all law, causes
and creates nothing unlike itself.
God is also revealed as the pre-
server of man. The universe, in
Guiding man, is seen to be evolved
by Mind and not by atomic force.
And then follows the final Lesson,
Christian Science" which usually
includes some Scriptural prophecy
of Christian Science and a brief
history of Mrs. Eddy's discovery
Of this Science and the steps lead
ing thereto.
This God-inspired method for
learning the spiritual, scientific
meanings of Bible texts was intro
duced by our Leader and consti-
tutes, she says, "a sermon undivi-
vorced from truth, uncontaminated
and unfettered by human hypothe-
ses, and divinely authorized"
(Quarterly, Explanatory Note). The
Lesson-Sermons were instituted by
Mary Baker Eddy and serve as an
impersonal Pastor to give the
Word of God to unprecedented minds
throughout the whole world.
Eternality of the Word
One day while Jesus was talking
with his disciples about wars and
rumours of wars" he prophetically
declared. Heaven and earth shall
pass away: but my word shall not
pass away" duke 1888. And here
we are, nearly two thousand years
later, talking about him and find
ing safety in what he said and did.
His words live because they came
from God. Gods Word cannot be
debated or argued. 1t must be ac-
copied or left alone. Whatever God
says, must endure, for His words
are endowed with the life-giving
qualities of wisdom, love, power,
and Immortality.