C.L. Baum - Individual Responsibility (1918)

7/30/2019 C.L. Baum - Individual Responsibility (1918)

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IndividualResponsibility

(O CUMX Wu* ??U/W ( hBy MRS. C. L. BAUM

FIRST EDITION


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I dedicate this book to NonaL. Brooks, whose love for hu-manity and faith in the Truthhave been a constant inspirationin my life.


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INDEXIndividual Responsibility 7 to 41The Message of Truth 42The Truth That Frees 46Knowledge and Practice 49Our Essential Attitude 54What Shall I Think? 59Thoughts on Healing 62Demonstration of Health 64Thoughts on Demonstration 68,The Poise of Understanding 71Demonstration of Harmony 75Our Divine Supply 79Spiritual Diagnosis 82Essentials of Spiritual Life 86The Inward Stillness 90Thy Health Shall Spring Forth Speedily 94The Promises 97 to 127


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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYThere is no greater present-day need

than those men and women able and willingto take positions of responsibility and holdthese positions with efficiency and integrity.

Great opportunity for growth and ad-vancement await those qualified for indi-vidual responsibility.

Yet, as we look into our little personalworld we see how few are ready to meet thedemand.There is more willingness than readiness;

for we have not been trained for leadershipand we shrink from, rather than gladlyaccept responsibility.The types of people are various : on one

side there are the leaners, the drifters, theshirkers, and the irresponsible; on the otherside, the earnest, strong, capable people whowait only for guidance and direction to dogood work.

Again, we find the "all for Self" type,who work for personal glory, for "Myfamily," "My church," to get, to acquire andobtain, to "make a living," to outshine

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

others in social position or business success.The smallest class is made up of the

leaders of the race, those with deep under-standing and great initiative; these are theones that assume responsibility, they are thefearless ones, the lifters, the selfless, work-ing for the good of the whole and standingout as lights against a background of mentaldarkness.We are so easily classed by others, whoare aware of our strength or of our weak-ness, of our courage or of our timidity;yet we can honestly class ourselves if we sodesire and no one will question our record.The thoughts we think, the words we

speak, the things we do, or fail to do,inevitably reveal the class to which webelong. Only those advance rapidly who arewilling to accept the responsibility of theirown lives. Leaning upon others results inweakness, but Lifting brings added strengthand power. Life itself offers every oppor-tunity for achievement, and the active useof every Divine quality inherent withinourselves.


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It is so much easier to drift than to rowto dream than to execute ; to preach than topractice; to talk Truth than to live Truth.

Let us meditate on these three simplestatements

I am responsible for my thoughts;I am responsible for my words;I am responsible for my actions.Now we can ask ourselves, "How am I

handling this responsibility?"It does us no good to blame our troubles

upon others, or to withdraw from the activi-ties of the world; "Anything for peace"leads us into all sorts of negative conditions.We must stand true to our highest con-victions of Right, by living every convictionto the best of our ability.To be neutral when it comes to matters

of right or wrong argues an entire lack ofmoral understanding, to say nothing ofspiritual discernment.To say, "Oh, I guess God will work it

out some way or other" and to sit back inapathy and idleness, is not faith at all butchronic laziness ; for the shifting of our own

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responsibility upon the Creator of theUniverse is no help to spiritual attainment.We may have remarkable "gifts" fromthe Father but if we do not use our gifts,of what avail are they?We may desire an education, but if wedo not utilize all the means at hand toaccomplish our desire, even our HeavenlyFather cannot give us our education.So with spiritual knowledge: It is not

a gift but a result, arising from our ownearnest seeking and a willingness to layaside lesser things for its attainment.Now is the time for work, spiritual,mental, and physical; not only to resolve,but to carry the resolve out in our dailyliving. To live at peace with the world isgood; but to be strong and powerful forrighteousness in the world is infinitely bet-ter; to fear nothing, to shirk nothing, to/meet every experience with Divine Under-standing and willing responsibility,thiswill make us worth while to the world andwill prove that the Truth we stand for isabsolutely demonstrable on every occasion.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYFIRST DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO KNOW GOD."God is in the midst of her ; she shall not

be moved, God shall keep her and that rightearly."Psalms 46: 5.Our first need is to know God as our

source and our immediate help for everytime of trouble. Without this knowledge,we are but poorly equipped for living thespiritual life of divine responsibility.

Just as we worked hard to acquire ourmental education, so must we work for ourspiritual understanding.

First, we must acknowledge the Omni-presence of God and then we prove God toourselves, by a real conscious trust in theDivine Presence, close at hand, ready withits loving wisdom for every emergency.Become accustomed to the Father's help;

turn to God first, not last. There is noother help so sure and so certain.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYSECOND DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO BE ALIFTER, NOT A LEANER.

''I will lift up mine eyes unto the hillsfrom whence cometh my help."

After each resolve, let us turn quietly tothe Father for wisdom and guidance.

If we are to be lifters, we must havespiritual strength to help the weak, to healthe broken hearted, and to give courage tothe discouraged.The world is powerless to aid us, we mustlet go external props and place all our faithin the Divine Power, which is always readyfor service.

Expect this help, wait for it; it alwaysresponds to our trust.

Before we become lifters, we must stopleaning on others, for all leaning tends toweakness. We need self-confidence andself-reliance, if we are to be a strength inour immediate environment.Remember, no one is healed of thedependent habit all at once, we must work

with patience, dropping external aidsgradually, until we feel our independence.

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THIRD DAYWATCHWORD 1 RESOLVE TO BE PLEAS-ANT AND TO MAKE CHEERFULNESS MYHABIT OF THOUGHT."A merry heart maketh a cheerful coun-

tenance."Every . outward effect, follows an inner

cause. Before we can have the permanentgood cheer in our external living, we mustbe happy within.

In times of seeming failure, we can dwellupon the successes of the past, expect moreof them, put the failure in the backgroundand be glad of the ability to go forward andtry again.

Serve the Lord with gladness, come beforehis presence with singing; let us alwayscarry the idea that we are serving the Godwithin, not the world or any personality.

"Be of good cheer, and forget not all mybenefits," remember all the blessings and begrateful for the present good.The world is a sad place for the dis-

couraged, but a glad place for those who arehappy and contented.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYFOURTH DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO RELY UPONDIVINE WISDOM AND NOT ON MY OWNUNDERSTANDING."God is my wisdom and my strength; of

whom shall I be afraid?"Of ourselves we know but little, hence,for every problem presented to our thought,we turn to the Father for perfect under-standing.We can say to the Father, "I trust this

problem to Thy perfect Intelligence withinmyself," then drop all anxious thought andgo forward to the next work at hand withcheerfulness and faith, with an absoluteconfidence that every need will be met andthat we shall be aware of the Divineprotection.

"Every tomorrow has two handles, wecan take hold of it by the handle of anxietyor by the handle of faith."

If we would only live more easily withoutstrain and anxious thought, we should findpleasant resting places followed by joyousactivity with no weariness. We all haveunlimited strength to meet easily, everysituation.

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FIFTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO KNOW MYABILITY TO MEET WISELY EVERY EXTER-NAL DEMAND.

"Therefore now amend your ways andyour doings and obey the voice of the Lordyour God."The world is continually making demands

upon all of us, and unless we meet thesedemands wisely, we are often overwhelmedby the multiplicity of things crowding uponus.

It is so much harder to say no than tosay yes, that we fail to make the true decisionbefore our answer is given; then we findwhen it is too late, that we have obligatedourselves so heavily that often a mentalbreakdown is the result.

Begin today to consider wisely everydemand that is presented, accept no morethan you can do well, for crowded work isunsatisfactory and over-work is not helpfulto ourselves or others.

It is not work, but worry, that bringstrouble upon us ; with more forethought andless acquiescence to every foolish demand,we can stop worry and live the sereneuntroubled life.

Kindly consideration makes no unneces-sary demands.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYSIXTH DAY

WATCHWORD I AM THANKFUL FOR MYMANIFEST GOOD."Being enriched in every thing to all

bountifulness, which causeth through usthanksgiving to God."

Every one has some cause for thankful-ness ; this is evidenced by the fact that noneof us is willing to change places with anyone else.

Yet many of us entirely forget to bethankful for the blessings that we would notwillingly lose.We grumble and complain about thethings we have not, leaving no time to begrateful for what we have.

Let us begin now to thank God for thegood that is in our lives ; for we do notthank men but the Father who worksthrough men as channels for the DivineAbundance.Be grateful for the least little kindness

or the smallest gift. A grateful attitudedraws us very close to the Divine Presence,thereby bringing more good into ourconscious experience.

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SEVENTH DAYWATCHWORD-I RESOLVE TO CAST ALLMY BURDENS ON THE LORD AND TO TRUSTTHE ETERNAL."Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He

shall sustain thee."Psalms 55 : 22.While it is helpful to cast our mental

burdens upon the Lord, the next step, with-out which nothing is accomplished, is theattitude of perfect faith, which brings therealization that we are sustained and thatour burdens are carried by the EternalGood. Too many people cast off all respon-sibility and become lazy, idle, and finallyincompetent and useless.We are not to shirk by any means; forwork is a blessing, and when done happilywith an understanding of its beneficialresult, makes us strong.We carry so many unnecessary burdensheavy loads, which wear us out and helpno one."Worry kills more people than disease."Would it not be a rest to drop the worry-load and try the trust and happiness curefor a while?

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYEIGHTH DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO DO UNTOOTHERS AS I WOULD LIKE THEM TO DOUNTO ME."Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,

Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom ofHeaven, but he that doeth the will of myFather which is in Heaven."What is the will of the Father? It isthat activity of the Divine Mind whichcorresponds to the God nature.The will then must be loving, peaceful,

joyous and all powerful for good in theworld.

If we are to do the will of the Father, weat once begin to be loving, kind, helpfulto others, true in all relationships, courteousto all people, gentle to the rude andfriendly to the friendless.

In this way we fulfill the Law of Love,hence the Law of Compensation is boundto work for us.As we appreciate all that is done for us,looking at the motive rather than at thething done, as we are happy in thought,pleasant in word and loving in deed, weenter the Kingdom which is our Heaven.

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NINTH DAYWATCHWORDRESOLVED THAT IN BUSI-NESS I WILL BE FAIR WITH MY CUSTOMERSAND JUST TO MY COMPETITORS."The path of the just is as the shining

light that shineth more and more unto theperfect day."Every resolve declared and followed doestwo things for us : it increases our force-fulness and ability, and it strengthens ourcharacter.We become not followers but leadersamong men.The drifters of the world are those

without force or ability to accomplishmighty works.

It takes more poise and wise judgment tobe just to a competitor, than to be fair toa customer.

In the great world of thought in whichwe are all active, we find competition inevery line. Are we all absolutely just toother religions, to other races, to otherchurches, to another's business?No one builds up his own business byrunning down the business of another.

"If your competitor talks about you, puthim on your payroll; never mind what hesays as long as he talks."

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTENTH DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO MEET AD-VERSITY WITH STRENGTH AND WISDOM., "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom,which all your adversaries shall not be ableto gainsay or resist."Adversity is that which to us seemsadverse to our good, yet when it is met withwisdom and poise it often gives great oppor-tunity for intellectual and spiritual growth.

It is through the overcoming of obstaclesthat we attain strength; but it leads toweakness to send out an S. O. S. call everytime we see an adversary coming our way.

Co-operate with your adversary, make itnot your enemy but your friend and thefirst thing you know it will become ablessing in your life.Form the co-operating habit, make yourunity with the divinity of all men, bless yourenemies and appreciate your friends, helpthe weak by a faith in their strength, neverlook for trouble but seek diligently for theever-present good, make your life God-likeby living divinely.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYELEVENTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO BEAR WIT-NESS TO HEALTH.

"That thy way may be known upon earth,thy saving health among all nations.""The Lord gave the word; great was the

company that published it."The word of the Lord is Health; yet

comparatively few publish it to the world.But those who testify to sickness and diseaseare manifold, even as grains of sand uponthe shore of the sea. This testimony ispublished abroad throughout the wholeworld; it arises as a dark cloud and evendims the eyes of those who search forTruth.How shall we bear witness to health?By having a realization of our onenesswith the Omnipresent Good, which is thefulness of Health for us all.Displace the negative belief of sickness bythe positive thought of Health.Then as we think Health, let us speak

Health with power; we can testify to ourknowledge of health as the reality of theUniverse. Thus shall Truth prevail overall the varied conceptions of ignorance.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWELFTH DAY

WATCHWORD^THIS IS THE DAY THATTHE LORD HAS MADE. I RESOLVE TO BEGLAD AND REJOICE IN IT.Wouldn't it be fine to awaken every

morning radiating with the sunshine of joyTo those who habitually practice justbeing glad it's a very simple matter, but tothose who worry and doubt, it takes somecourage to smile at difficulties and to feelhappy, notwithstanding external clouds.The mists of fear and anxiety can be

quickly dispelled if we will remember ourwatchword and repeat it over and overagain until we feel a mental change, forwith the inner change comes a brighteningof the outer darkness.

Just as long as we yield to the humanbelief of separation from our good, theunreal will persist in its claim of dominion,but as we come into individual relationshipwith the Father, we become conscious of apower that gives us joy.

This is our testing time, we must examinethe foundation of our faith, then put on thearmor of right thought and march forwardjoyfully.

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THIRTEENTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO MANIFESTMY DIVINE NATURE."For there is nothing hid, which shall not

be manifested."Mark 4:22.Man has concealed his Divine Naturethrough his false habits of thought.Because of this, the true man in hisspiritual perfection has not been revealed.When the new resolve is put into prac-tice, it brings a change of thought, a newpurpose, and a different attitude.

Because the Divine nature is Love, we atonce become courteous to others, considerateand loving.

Because the Divine Nature is Joy, werejoice and are glad for all the blessings ofthe world.The Divine Nature being Health, we

forget the claims of sickness, and think andtalk health.

In all our ways, we become witnesses toTruth, the hidden goodness of the real Selfis made manifest, and we help othersunconsciously.We help people to help themselves and asour love flows out into the world, it is aslight in the darkness and the spiritualnature of others is revealed.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYFOURTEENTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO KNOW DI-VINE MIND AS THE SOURCE OF MY SUPPLY.

"For who hath known the mind of theLord that he may instruct him?" 1 Cor.2:16.The realization of God as the Universal

.Mind of Unlimited Intelligence, hastens thetime when we shall know this One Mind asthe Source of all good in the Universe.As we realize this, we turn to the Source

for every thing we need, seeing men simplyas various channels through which God ispouring his bounty upon all.As we look back of the channels, we come

into immediate touch with this mind whichis the immediate supply for every need.What we all want is health, happiness andthe real joy of life; we seek for materialthings, but they fail to supply our real needs.

Spiritual laws are in operation every-where, but it is only as we make our con-nection with them that we receive the manyblessings which they bring to all.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYFIFTEENTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO DISCON-NECT FROM THE WORLD AND CONNECTWITH THE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT OF HEALTH.

"For it is God which worketh in you,both to will and to do of his good pleasure."Phil. 2: 13.

Let us become very quiet and in thestillness declare thoughtfully and earnestlyThou Infinite Redeemer of the world,I now co-operate with Thee and think evenas Thou dost think.

1 now see my body as spirit, the expres-sion of Thy Intelligence, created from theone pure harmonious substance. I see itanimated by Thy Perfect Life, and I realizethat it is Thy Spirit that pervades it andkeeps it whole.Thy Intelligence is active within it every-where, and ever needs my loving co-opera-tion. Henceforth, I will see thy Spirit ofLife within me as the strength and healthof my body; and as I declare and amconscious of this Truth, I am healed of allignorance; healed in the knowledge of ThyPresence ever with me. I am free.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYSIXTEENTH DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO BE ABOUTMY FATHER'S BUSINESS."God is love, and he that dwelleth in

Love dwelleth in God.""And this commandment have we from,him, that he who loveth God, loveth hisbrother also."Thus we know that our first business for

the Father is to love, to make our consciousunity with all those whom we touch in ourworld.As long as we leave out one of God'schildren, we have not yet received the

"heavenly vision" of the indissoluble unityof all.

Life itself is changeless good and doesnot depend for its activity on our changinghuman concepts.

This we are to see with clearness and thendirect our thought to this spiritual, unchang-ing reality. Only as we do this can werealize and proclaim in word and deed theever present goodness and supply of theFather, "with whom is no variableness,neither shadow of turning."The Father worketh hitherto, and I now

co-operate and work with and for theFather.

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SEVENTEENTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO KNOW THATWHATEVER I SHOULD DO, I CAN DO."The Spirit itself beareth witness with

our spirit that we are the children of God."Romans 8: 16.As we know ourselves as children of God,we find that all power in Heaven and inearth has been given unto us, hence what-ever we feel we should do, we can do, easily,without friction and always with joy.We turn to the Father for our direction,for the Infinite Intelligence knows the way;we then go forward with confidence andunfailing courage.

Under the Divine Guidance and with theinward faith, we cannot fail in any under-taking.We must not lose our courage, for thatis the required condition of thought bywhich we receive our strength.We guard our thought with care, so thatno perverted beliefs may enter and bring usto grief.

Stand with the Father for "He is God inHeaven above and upon the Earth beneath ;there is none else."

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYEIGHTEENTH DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO GROW INSPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING."Now we have received, not the spirit of

the world, but the Spirit which is of God,that we might know the things that arefreely given to us of God."I Cor. 2 : 12.How are we to grow in spiritual under-standing but to turn to our Source whichis Spirit, and to follow after the DivineInstruction ?We are to know the things that are sofreely given to us : Eternal Life, unlimitedintelligence, the fullness of Love, abundanceof supply and all the joy, peace and harmonywe desire.Then why be down-hearted, discouraged,

and blue; remember if you can't be happywhen you feel miserable you can't be happyat all, for our feelings have no real powerand as we become happy within, the outerliving is changed.

True satisfaction comes from a contentedmind and a serene outlook; we may besatisfied and happy with no material pos-sessions or we may lack satisfaction, withthe whole world of things at our command.

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NINETEENTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO THINK,SPEAK AND LIVE THE TRUTH I KNOW."Master, we know that thou art true, and

teachest the way of God in Truth."Matt.22 : 16.Have we not an inner guide, even theindwelling Christ, to teach us the way of

truth ?Without the invisible guide, our work

would be almost hopeless, with it, the way iseasy and our burden is light.To be true to God, is to bear witness tothe divine qualities in our simple every dayliving.To be true to the Christ is to acknowledgehim in all our ways, to turn in thought tohim for comfort, help, and guidance.To be true to others, is to discern spirit-ually their real nature and insist upon itsmanifestation.

"Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth iscome, he will guide you into all truth."John 16: 13.And when shall he come ? When we seekfor him with all our heart. And wherewill he come? Within our own conscious-ness, and the coming opens our door to thedemonstration of peace and power.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWENTIETH DaYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO HAVE ANABSOLUTE AND LOYAL TRUST IN THEGOODNESS OF GOD.

"For I, the Lord thy God, will hold thyright hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, Iwill help thee."We seem to have lost the largeness ofFaith in the Father that should be withus always.

Yet it is this perfect faith in the DivineGoodness that frees us from the hypnoticbeliefs of the race and all the consequentdiscord.

Perhaps one of the hardest places totrust is in the midst of man-made diseases.We are willing to ask God to forgive usour sins, but quite unwilling to trust himto heal our diseases, we are so afraid "some-thing might happen" if we did not "do some-thing" in an external way : O ye of littlefaith! willing in all foolishness to trust anunorganized drug yet afraid to put a loyalfaith in the Infinite Intelligence!We seem so non-receptive to our spiritualblessings, close at hand, and so very recep-tive to the false suggestions of ignorantbeliefs. "Commit thy way unto the Lord,trust also in Him, and He will bring it topass."

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TWENTY-FIRST DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO LET DIVINELOVE RULE MY THOUGHT, WORD, ANDDEED."Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy

self."Tolstoi wrote, "We think there are cir-

cumstances where we can treat human beingswithout love, but there are no such circum-stances.""Thy neighbor is thy fellow man," andthere is nothing so conducive to peace andhappiness as a conscious unity with allpeople. The moment we separate ourselvesand become critical in attitude the dark cloudof trouble arises on our mental horizon.

T. B. Aldrich said once that "a wide-spreading hopeful disposition is your onlytrue umbrella in this vale of tears." Henceif the dark cloud appears, we will have toopen this umbrella and keep in its shelteruntil we again make our unity.

Divine Love is so close to us, so ready tohelp us remember that the loving way is thedivine way.

If we would but practise the way of unityfor a month, nothing would induce us totry the path of separation again.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWENTY-SECOND DAYWATCHWORD I DECLARE THAT THE INFI-

NITE GOODNESS IS ESTABLISHED WITHINME.

"Prove all things, hold fast that whichis good."As we prove to ourselves the All-presenceof God, we become conscious of the good-ness of the Father as Life, Intelligence andSubstance, hence the wholeness of ourselvesas the Divine expression.Each day let us meditate together on

these simple statements of truth.Father, I acknowledge thy loving good-ness everywhere, even within myself.Thou art the Life that animates me.Thou art the Power that sustains me.Thou art the Wisdom that heals me.Thou art the Love that surrounds me.

I rest in, and trust thy unfailing Intelli-gence to guide me in all my ways.The revelation of Truth is mine now.The Inspiration of Truth leads me on tofuller demonstration. My thought is stayedon the Infinite Love and I am filled withfaith and courage.

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TWENTY-THIRD DAYWATCHWORD THOU ART THE HOLYSPIRIT OF HEALTH WITHIN ME."Know ye not that ye are the temple of

God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"That which we acknowledge as real isconstantly coming into our mental experi-

ence.If we acknowledge disease as real, we

shall have to meet it on every hand.If we acknowledge health as reality, it

will become our conscious realization.All health is universal, therefore, must be

Individual and is the only reality.Disease is man-made, man-named and

man-acknowledged ; man, having conceivedit, gives it power over himself.

Yet, of itself, it is nothing, no-thing, nolife, no intelligence, no substance.

Health is the all pervading OmnipresentHarmony of God, Changeless, Infinite,Perfect.

I am health, and in me is no sicknessat all.As He is, so are we in this world.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWENTY-FOURTH DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO TRUST THEFATHER FOR MY SUPPLY."Have faith that whatever you ask for in

prayer, is already granted you, and you willfind that it will be so."20th Century NewTestament.To trust the Father does not mean that

we are to sit idly by and do nothing, but thatwe are to work for self-expression, express-ing all that we are in all that we do, withno worry or fear about the result.Our supply is closer than the air we

breathe, but we must recognize and appro-priate it or we do not have it.God is responsible for His own creation,

but we are responsible for our thinking andliving. If we think lack and poverty, wecannot expect the opposite to come to us; ifwe think sickness and disease, we need notwonder that health seems afar off.

"Trust in the Lord and do good ; so shaltthou dwell in the land, and verily thou shaltbe fed."

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TWENTY-FIFTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO UPROOTEVERY PLANT THAT MY HEAVENLY FATHERHATH NOT PLANTED.As we begin the weeding process we find

growing in our mental garden many plantsthat are not the divine planting, hence theyneed to be uprooted.All that we inherit from the Father isperfect and all that He has given us is good.

Let us listen to James, a servant of God,when he says, "Be quick to listen, slow totalk, slow to be angryfor human angerdoes not promote Divine Righteousness."He also tells us to "clear away the rankgrowth of malice" ; thus even eighteen cen-

turies ago men were discovering hownecessary it was to keep the steadfast mindand the harmonious thought and word.We have the understanding to cast outall untrue beliefs and cultivate only thatwhich corresponds to our Divine Nature.

But we fail to use our understanding; welet the rank weeds of envy, pride, malice,and hatred take possession of our garden,which was given to us to cultivate.

It is full time to get at the work ofuprooting that which can bear no fruit sothat there may be room for what ourHeavenly Father has planted.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWENTY-SIXTH DAYWATCHWORD-"I RESOLVE TO KEEP THEPEACE, TO DWELL IN HARMONY, THEN THEGOD OF LOVE AND PEACE WILL BE WITHME."II Cor. 13:11.

Is it hard to keep this resolve? If it is,we may be sure it is all the more necessary.But, some one says, "How can I keep the

peace, when I live in such a discordantenvironment?" Our environment is alwaysthe outpicturing of our inner thinking andcan be changed only by an inward purifi-cation.We carry with us our own mental picturesno matter where we go, and the most beau-tiful place in the world can not give us itspeace unless there is a silent mental corre-spondence.We see in the world what we ourselvesare projecting into the world, and untilthere is an inner co-operation the outercannot yield us its blessing.

First then, look within. We have thepower to govern and control our ownthought, to keep the peace within, to havean attitude of harmonious co-operation.

"Don't find fault, find a remedy."The God of Love and Peace is alwaysclose at hand, but in our mental turmoil wedo not recognize or acknowledge Him,therefore, we fail to receive His blessing.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWENTY-SEVENTH DAYWATCHWORD "WHATEVER MY TASKMAY BE, I RESOLVE TO WORK AT IT HEART-ILY AS A SERVANT OF THE LORD AND NOTUNTO MEN."Col. 3:23.

Those who work for men, have but littlejoy. in the task and no inspiration in thedoing of the work.

But as they change their attitude and workfor God the Father, they gain the joy ofself-expression and the Father gives theminspiration.

There is a deep silent growth within eachone who abandons the external world as amaster or guide and turns wholly to thedivinity within himself for all direction.God is the Wisdom, Power, and Intelli-gence within us all; real self-reliance meansa reliance upon God; and a Divine Masteryonce attained, we need no more humanadvice or help.To work heartily is to work happily withgreat joy, gaining knowledge and growth

in understanding, through the activity weuse in all accomplishment.We gain nothing through inertia, indo-lence, or indifference. These conditions ofthought mean stagnation and nothing cangrow that stagnates.

Let us be glad in the work of today andlook at it as a blessing in our life.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWENTY-EIGHTH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO KNOW THETRUTH THAT GIVES ME FREEDOM.

"If the son therefore shall make you freeye shall be free indeed."John 8: 36.There is no freedom on earth for thosewho deny freedom to others.Acting upon these three statements givenbelow we find our way into the Kingdom.

First, we make our positive decision toseek the Truth with all our heart.

Next, in our diligent search after Truthwe discover the Self, the Son of God, whohas power to give us freedom.

Last, we find the condition by which theblessing of freedom is attained, and the con-dition is, that we give freedom to others.

This is the test : How far do we holdothers in bondage to us, to our privatebeliefs of what they should or should notdo, how far do we hold them accountable tous for their conduct or actions?Or do we "loose them and let them go,"trusting them wholly to the Father and theChrist within themselves? If we bind themwe lose our own freedom; if we trust themto the Divine Guidance, we help them outof personal bondage and gain the greaterwisdom through which we discover ourown freedom.

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INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYTWENTY-NINTH DAY

WATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO LISTEN ANDSPEAK THE WORD MY FATHER GIVES UNTOME."He that is of God, heareth God's words."Jesus emphasized the truth of his divine

origin and nature, but all that he claimed forhimself, he claimed for us, the children ofGod. He said to those who believe in him,"If you continue in my word then are youmy disciples indeed."

All who love the Truth are believing onhim, the Christ within, and through theknowledge that we are born of God, wecan hear and speak the healing words ofGod.

These words are Life, Health, Joy, Peace,and Power, every so called "word" standsfor a message of Truth, hence when we"Speak the Word" for another we meanthat we are declaring his true and eternalstate of Being as the direct expression ofGod. According to the realization andacceptance of this word is its healing powermade manifest.Through lowly and earnest listening we

receive from the Father the exact word thatis needed in each particular problem and theresult, even though the expression of theLaw often seems marvelous to others.

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THIRTIETH DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO GIVE ALLTHINGS IN LOVE."The Father hath not left me alone; for

I do always those things that please him."John 8 : 29.Those who give all that they have accord-

ing to the Divine Law of Love overcome allill effects from their generosity. Theymake neither leaners nor dependents, butthey help those to whom they give to becomestrong and self-reliant.

Charity is always cold; therefore it con-tracts and belittles those to whom it is given.Love is warm, and expands and enlarges

those whom it desires to help in any way.God is Love; that is why it pleases Himwhen we give from the Divine Nature,which is all-loving.When we give from the thought ofcharity, we recognize lack and poverty ofresources ; when we give in love we knowthe fullness of all good everywhere andrecognize abundance for all.

Let us do all that we do in love, co-opera-tion, and unity, blessing all that we sendout into the world by the realization, thatthe Divine Supply is finding an open channelthrough us. Thus do we receive as well asgive a blessing.

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THIRTY-FIRST DAYWATCHWORD I RESOLVE TO TRUST THEFATHER AND TAKE NO THOUGHT FORTOMORROW."The Lord is good and He knoweth them

that trust in Him."Our thought for tomorrow often keepsthe present from yielding the good that it

has for us ; for when our mental action isdisturbed and anxious, we are not able toapply sincerely the Truth we really know.Most of us cross many bridges before we

come to them; that is, we waste time andthought over that which may not come at all.We borrow trouble instead of trusting theeternal Law of good, which is sufficient foreach day as it appears.

If it seems wise to make some provisionfor the future, let us see to it that the pro-vision holds within it only good, casting outall doubt and distrust, all fear and anxiety.

It is unwise to live in the future, even asit is to live in the past. Let us consecrateourselves anew to study, and the applicationof the truth we know. We can make anindividual effort to be more faithful, moretrustful, so that from each day will arise ahappier tomorrow.

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THE MESSAGE OF TRUTHMany of us have believed that messages

of Truth could come to us only through aninner revelation; hence we have spent agreat deal of time waiting for a voice thatsomehow did not speak, or if it did, couldnot be heard. Experience has proved to us,however, that messages may and do comein many other ways.We may receive our individual messagefrom a book, from nature, or again someone may, in a few words waken us suddenlyto the Light of the Divine Revelation. Inthe same way we may be healed by a treat-ment, a book, a sermon, or a very simplelesson in Truth may be the open door intofuller understanding.

In order that I may be quite definite, Iwill give you the messages of Truth thatled me into Divine Science.My first message came in the form ofsilent treatments by a practitioner. The

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THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH .result of this message was a most wonderfulhealing and it has kept me steadfast manytimes when otherwise I might have wavered.My second message came in these words,"The Father will open the way." Throughholding to this message, which was givento me by another, the way was opened andI came to Denver for my first lessons inDivine Science.The third message came when the path

looked dark before me and I asked for aninner light. These words came at once."Cast all your burdens upon me and I willgive you rest" ; the result was that I foundimmediate peace and the whole problem wassolved by Divine Love's finding an openchannel through me.The last message came through a little

"seed thought" given to me in California.I was just about to leave the Home of Truthfor Denver with no idea of taking up thework definitely, either in healing or inteaching.The night before I left, during a healing

meeting, they passed around what they43


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THE MESSAGE OF TRUTHcalled seed thoughts, and each one wasasked to read hers aloud ; this was mine

"Wist you not I must be about myFather's business?" The result of thismessage is sixteen years of healing andteaching Divine Science. Messages ofTruth are constantly coming to us. Thosewho accept the message and act upon itfind steady unfoldment, those who do notaccept hold themselves back from fullerknowledge.The Light of Truth once received is never

withdrawn, but waits patiently for us toturn to it again for greater illumination.The great necessity is to act upon the

message received. Had I failed to walkwhen the Father opened the way, my goodwould have been postponed ; for, no matterwhen or how the way was opened for me,my part was to walk therein. How manyof us today are "about the Father's busi-ness" ? The Divine Laws of eliminationand adjustment are always at work; ourpart is co-operation with these Laws. Wemust cease all worry, all hurry, all resent-

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THE MESSAGE OF TRUTHment; for we ourselves must overcome allthat keeps us out of the Kingdom of Peaceand Love.We should not resign ourselves to per-sonal limitations, but through realizing oureternal spiritual nature come into the joyof freedom. We must live in such harmonyand agreement with our world that allchronic troubles will disappear. The workat hand is our greatest opportunity forgrowth and the "place whereon we stand isholy ground."Health, Joy, Peace, and Supply shouldbe our conscious realization; and if weseem to lack any of these qualities, there isa need for us to stop and question earnestly,What mental cloud have I allowed to comebetween me and my changeless good?Wist you not that you must be aboutyour Father's business? When you start,the Father will open the way.

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THE TRUTH THAT FREESWe are all students of Truth, all walking

the same path of inner attainment. We donot recognize any high or low, any youngor old; for the one who starts today mayhave a greater inspiration than one who haswalked the path for years.

Truth is not for time but for eternity andwe do not work for personal credit or per-sonal gratification, but for growth andgreater understanding.The Spirit of Truth "brings all things to

our remembrance" when there is a readinessto receive; it cannot enter when the mentaldoor is closed.We alone can release the brake of doubtand unbelief, and open the door to thePower that waits for entrance.

All effort is a matter of mental attitudeand we have our part to do in bringing theknowledge of Truth to the world.The mental attitude of expectation and

openness makes it easy to receive, and themore we receive, the greater the blessingin our daily living.

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THE TRUTH THAT FREESPeople, generally, however, have so many

things they do not want stored away in themental attic, that there is no room for thethings they do want.

Inherited beliefs hang from a large hookin one corner; fear of anything new or dif-ferent sits and rocks in an easy chair; thewindows are curtained with the cobwebs ofuseless habits of thought; discouragementlurks in the shadows cast by doubt; fretful-ness and discontent are twins and lie in thesame old-fashioned cradle our grandmothersrocked their troubles in, and the fine dustof worry settles down upon everything.Do we want to hand down such ancient

relics as these to our posterity? Did anygood ever come out of such an attic?

It is easy to see that a thorough mentalhouse-cleaning is needed, a burning up of allthe undesirable, accumulated trash, a puri-fication of the whole room, and a set ofnew furnishings.Of course, it is easier to sit and rock and

let the dust of ages accumulate; but theeasy way is by no means the best way, and

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THE TRUTH THAT FREESone of the main objects in bringing" DivineScience to the attention of people is toawaken them from the lethargy of mentalindolence by showing them the necessity ofmental and spiritual activity.

Let each one this month get busy doingthe "fall cleaning" of that mental attic;nothing in the world is hard to do if donewith interest and enthusiasm.

Those who really begin this Divinerenovation will not again consent to dark-ness, but will dwell untroubled in the Light.We need not seek external help, for ourown true inner Self shows us the way andis always ready to lend us a helping hand.

"Cast away thy transgressions and makea new spirit within thee.""Ye are the sons of the Living God and

all of ye are the children of the Most High."

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KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICEThe life of a true Divine Scientist should

be one of poise under any and all circum-stances.

This life comes through appropriation ofour divine qualities and attributes, whichbelong to us by birthright, and must alwaysremain with us.

But appropriation alone is not enough.We must use our spiritual and mentalpowers, for it is by use that they increasein value.

Jesus said, "He that believeth on me theworks that I do shall he do also." This wasnot a mere figure of speech but an actualtruth and it can be demonstrated by all whoreally believe in their own Christ.

Spiritual dominion is given to man. Ashe exercises his dominion with love andintelligence, he realizes poised, peaceful,powerful activity.

But until we accept and put into use our49


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KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICEbirthright of power, we know but littlemore than children and are therefore underthe dominion of the world.As long as we are sensitive, can be elated

or depressed by praise or blame, or are evenhurt by the actions of others, we are stillfar from the poise we earnestly desire.Only when one is calm and serene in the

midst of the world's turmoil, can he say intruth, "None of these things move me."The impersonal attitude is the only one

that gives us peace and harmony.The personal attitude leads to unrest,selfishness, and unhappiness. "What do Iget out of it?" is the secret question, evenif not outwardly expressed; and if there isnothing to get, all interest and enthusiasmquickly vanish.Why hold to the belief that we lack ourgood when we have our basis to apply toevery experience?The Omnipresence of Divine Supply is

ours to enjoy; why deny it? If we wouldclaim and mentally appropriate all that isours through divine inheritance, we should

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KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE

not be wandering around trying to "get"something to meet our needs.We do not realize the activity of divineLove everywhere, working for the good ofits children. When we do, all fault-findingand complaining will disappear and we willrejoice in the good at hand.The way of the Lord is perfect, it is plain

before us, a pleasant road for us to travel;but it is only when our thoughts, words, anddeeds conform to the law of righteousnessthat we see the way, which is the open roadto all fulfillment.

Others are encouraged when we walkuprightly and are strong and poised in theTruth ; but when we waver and falter, manyare discouraged and give up the attempt togo forward.Understanding of the Divine Love andGoodness everywhere is a sure, positiveremedy for every erroneous conception thatwe meet in our daily experiences and if wewill but form the habit of faith in the pro-tection of the Father there shall no evilbefall us and no ill come upon us,

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KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICEWe invite trouble by believing in it as a

probable guest at any time ; in fact, there aremany who set the table and look out of thewindow to see if it yet draws near.What a faithless way of living! Why

not begin today to claim, look for, andexpect our good? It is bound to arrive ifwe prepare for it and open wide the doorthat it may come in.A friend said to me lately, "I never makeany plans for January, for in that monthsome of us are always sick." I believe, ifthat had been my experience in the past, Iwould plan for every day of January suchgreat activity and joy that a sick thoughtwould not find an entering wedge; fornothing can come to us save through thedoor of mentality, and surely the childrenof God can guard that door from allintruders.Acknowledge the Truth faithfully, trust

wholly to the Spirit, ignore the claims of theworld, insist that only the good is true,declare that the universal law of Love isworking through you, realize your unity

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KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICEwith the good everywhere, then rejoice thatalready your supply is at hand and nothingcan take it from you.The Self of each stands unmoved by our

foolish fears, our false conceptions; it iscalm and strong, unwavering and unafraid;the Self is. quietly, gently leading us intothe knowledge of Truth that is destined for.every living soul, and sooner or later wewill drop the veil of delusion and realize our.unity with our Source, the Infinite, ever-present Good.

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OUR ESSENTIAL ATTITUDEThe attitude I want to talk about is not

the one we hold toward the big things oflife, not the attitude we take when it isnecessary to decide between what seems tobe right, or what is merely expedient.

Neither is it the attitude that is forcedupon us at times by death, accidents, earth-quakes, or great moral questions.The attitude I want to talk about is the

essential attitude needed towards the simpledaily experiences, the attitude that maybring us peace at all times.

Just as an experiment, let us sit down forabout five minutes for contemplation. I saysit down advisedly, for we are not to do this"on the run" but with deliberation andhonesty of purpose.Was it hard to take that five minutes?

If it was, it shows, beyond question, that weare living in the rush of things and not inthe tranquility of mental poise.

First, then, let us let go and be quiet;wait for the analysis of our attitude until

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OUR ESSENTIAL ATTITUDE

we can look out from the self-centre calmlyand dispassionately.Now we can take a broad general view of

the day's activity just ahead of us. How dowe feel about it? For our feeling repre-sents our attitude and before the feeling isdifferent the attitude must be changed.Do we hate our work or rejoice in it?Does it appear burdensome or light to us?Is there hurry, worry, or confusion in ourthought of it?

Let us be very honest with ourselves inthese questions.When we say in accents of despair,

"Every thing has gone wrong today!" thetrouble was not in things but in thought,the loose screw that caused friction was notin the external world but in the lack ofmental balance.We need, to use the vernacular of theworld, to "get hold of ourselves."

Let us ask, "What is the matter withme?" not "What is wrong with the world?"No one needs to live in a rush; we maychoose to do so and we may even claim

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OUR ESSENTIAL ATTITUDEour enormous value to the world becausethe world makes so many demands upon us,but rush work is all too often slack work andis degenerating in its effect upon all con-cerned.

I heard a man say that whenever toomany responsibilities and decisions presentedthemselves and he was disturbed over them,he always "took a day off and went fish-ing." When he looked at his trials from agreater distance, they seemed of less conse-quence and when he returned with acalmness of thought, over half of them "hadsettled themselves."Our attitude is the crucial test of our

unfoldment in mental and spiritual poise.Now let us "get down to business" and

make a few inquiries of ourselvesDo I jump at any sudden noise?Do I "go all to pieces" when something

quite unexpected confronts me?Do I "hurry like mad" to meet my nextengagement? Do I feel an "inner tremor"

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OUR ESSENTIAL ATTITUDE

Am I "too busy" to be really courteousto my family?We can ask a great many other questionsthese few are examples of the remarks wehear in the busy world of today.

In the first place, let us cast no blame onour nerves for our lack of poise; nerves areregisters, not the creators of mental pictures.

It has been said that "hurry is slovenlypreparation" ; if we began in time, weshould not need to hurry, and "inwardtremor" is but the registration of hurried orexcited thought.We all need to get a spiritual perceptionon some of these points and follow it upwith a serence, poised attitude towards lifein general, and our own individual livingin particular.Our desire and inspiration will point theway to the word we need to think anddeclare, and we may serenely await its ful-fillment; for the law never varies in itsworking, and the tendency of the Divinepurpose for us all is harmony of mind,thought, and body ; hence we are to be lifted

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OUR ESSENTIAL ATTITUDEup to a conscious faith and we shall receivethe sure reward of those who diligentlyseek the way of Truth.

Let us begin today. As we resolve to letgo of the non-essentials, we can plan ourday for free, peaceful activity, we will taketime occasionally for the real stillness, andlet the world hurry, rush along withoutengulfing us.We have the power to choose; why notchoose the happy serene attitude and thushave a joy-world, a world of order andpeace which has before this been undreamedof as a possibility?"My peace I give unto you, not as the

world gives, give I unto you," but as theinner peace of the Christ that passeth allfinite comprehension, a peace that abides aswe enter into understanding.

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WHAT SHALL I THINK?As man is born with the capacity to think

and given the power to choose what he shallthink, he is discovering today that the wayhe is thinking makes the difference betweenpeace or discord in his life.The great essential for him is to establish

the habit of right thinking, which is not adifficult matter where there is an earnestdesire and purpose for so doing.Man has thought he was controlled by

conditions external to himself and hasbelieved in luck or chance as governingfactors in his life, he has left Divine Mindwith its loving Intelligence out of all cal-culation, and his own thinking has beenallowed to dissipate in any fashion.

Being afraid to take responsibility uponhimself for his many sad experiences he hascast the blame upon others. He has,therefore, not known how to deliver himselfin times of trouble.Man is now learning more rapidly every

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WHAT SHALL I THLNK ?thoughts and at the same time have peacefulexperiences, that he cannot think impurethoughts and at the same time live a life ofpurity, and that he can not contemplate andbelieve in disease as a reality and at thesame time become acquainted with theOmnipresent Health.

It is a sad fact that the shadow ofmateriality has come between man and therealization of his own spiritual nature,hence he stumbles in the darkness instead ofwalking toward the Light.

Jesus taught that it was the evil thoughtsthat defile the man, and Paul told us tothink on that which was lovely, pure, andgood; but it has taken many centuries forus to take this truth as a working basis andestablish new habits of thought and a fullerdiscernment of the impersonal laws of mindthat work the same way for us all.

According to your thought shall it beunto you, and you will not realize healthwhile your thought is filled with sickness,nor love when your thought is fear-full.What then shall I think? Only that

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WHAT SHALL I THINK?which is true, from the Basis of the Omni-presence of God, the All Good, and let yourdaily prayer be: May the words of mymouth and the meditations of my heart beacceptable unto Thee.

Be not conformed to this world, but beye transformed by the renewing of yourmind.To be spiritually minded is Life and

Peace.Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy

thoughts shall be established.Love thinketh no evil.Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth;

keep the door of my lips."He who knows that Power is in the

soul, that he is weak only because he haslooked for good out of him and elsewhere,and so perceiving, throws himself unhesi-tatingly on his thought, instantly rightshimself, stands erect, commands his limbs,works miracles."Emerson.

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THOUGHTS ON HEALINGHealing, according to Divine Science,

means demonstration of the Principles ofTruth for which Divine Science stands.Health and Strength, Joy and Peace,belong to man by birthright and his goodmay be evidenced here and now.As Divine Science is a demonstrable

religion, people naturally ask, "What has itdone?" and "What can it do for me?" Anystudent can tell of case after case of so-called incurable illness that has been healed,and the testimony of many witnesses cannotbe disproved.One of the first things to learn is that

disease is unreal and not a necessary experi-ence, for that which is Real is True andabides forever, that which is unreal has noenduring qualities and disappears whenTruth is applied as darkness disappearswhen the light enters.Divine Science stands for the fullknowledge of Truth and its demonstration

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in daily living. Disease has been healed,unfortunate habits have been dissolved,families have been re-united through theunderstanding of God everywhere asHealth, Strength, and Peace.

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DEMONSTRATION OF HEALTHThe race has always known the desira-

bility of Health; has even known thenecessity of Health if one were to succeedin any undertaking. But that Health wasomnipresent, the Eternal State of God andMan, since man is the expression of God,was not thought of nor realized until duringthe last fifty years.

In the meditations of Marcus Aurelius,written in 150 A. D., we read, "He tookcare of his bodily health, not as one whowas greatly attached to life nor out ofregard to personal appearance nor yet in acareless way, but so that through his ownattention, he seldom stood in need of aphysician, of medicine or external appli-cations."

Today, if we all gave more attention toHealth as the reality of Mind and body, we,too, would have no need of a practitioneror of external aid. Were people in generalmore enlightened on the subject of HealthUniversal, this knowledge applied would

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DEMONSTRATION OF HEALTHmean harmony and the elimination of themany appearances of disease among us.

Listen to Carlyle as he declares, "Througheye and ear and all avenues of sense, cameclear, unimpeded tidings from without, andfrom within issued clear, victorious force;we stood as in the centre of Nature, givingand receiving in harmony with it all; inthose days health and sickness were foreigntraditions that did not concern us; ourwhole Being was as yet One, the whole manlike an incorporated will."

Jesus demonstrated Health to many dur-ing His work here on earth, and we aretoday following His example. We exclaimin wonder when we are told of a case ofhealing and rejoice that one has realizedfreedom; but why wonder that the normalstate of man should suddenly becomeknown? The veil of illusion was lifted andthe reality of substance as it is, was shownto the receptive mentality.

Healing may be, and often is, instantan-eous, or it may be progressive. That is, aswe advance in the knowledge of Truth, we

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DEMONSTRATION OF HEALTHsee less and less of its opposite, andgradually ignorance is overcome and therealization of Health becomes permanent.An interesting case of healing was that

of a woman who came to Denver with aclaim of tuberculosis. Two physicians, oneher brother, had pronounced her incurable.They said she had but a very short time tolive. She applied to a Divine Science prac-titioner for help, which, of course, wasgladly given. Within less than two monthsshe returned to her home in Illinois. Thetwo physicians 'who had pronounced thecase incurable wrote a letter to the College,saying that she was absolutely well, herlungs being perfectly sound. What hadoccurred ? Simply this : an ignorant beliefhad been dissolved and the immaculatepurity and Health of her substance had beenrevealed.A personal experience is always ofinterest to our large family of students, andI relate the following experience for theirbenefit: I suffered for twenty-five yearswith intense sick and neuralgic headaches.

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DEMONSTRATION OF HEALTHThere seemed no cause for them and nophysician could help me. After I was con-verted to Divine Science I was healed inthis way : I was in the midst of one ofthese headaches; the suffering was intense,the pain almost unbearable, when suddenlyI realized that I myself was perfectlyserene and happy, that I was an individual-ized center of peace and no pain or hurthad ever touched or changed me. Therealization was so clear that I was healedand have never had to meet these experiencessince.We are all so much greater than we

know and it is only the untrue beliefs aboutthe self that keep us out of the greatSpiritual Kingdom of Harmony and whole-ness.

Think, not sickness, think Health.Talk, not disease, talk Health.Trust, not drugs, trust Health.Live it, love it, bear witness to it.Health is everywhere present.Health is in you; believe in it and it will

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THOUGHTSON DEMONSTRATIONIt would be quite impossible to over-

estimate the spiritual uplift that has cometo the race through Divine Science. Un-foldment has been quickened, permanenthealth has been realized, and conscioustrust in the ever-present good has becomea fixed habit of thought.Many are patiently learning the lessons

of Truth and helping others into greaterknowledge.We can now see the utter nothingness ofany thing, thought, or experience opposed toGod. The good is uncovered, and we realizea wealth of Love, of Joy, of Health, ofWisdom, and of Power.By these signs shall we know those that

have consciously chosen the way of Truth:They are serene, poised, fearless, filled withthe love of service, unselfish, detached frommaterial bondage; and they have also agreat impersonal outlook upon all eventsand experiences in the world about them.

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THOUGHTS ON DEMONSTRATIONA demonstration of interest that came to

me when a very young worker may help usto realize that it is "the Spirit that doeththe work."The case was that of a young girl in

High School who had been suffering formonths under the claim of rheumatism.Everything had been tried for her relief butall to no avail, and the time of deepdiscouragement had come.

It was my first trial in public work and Iaccepted the case with much humility.After the second treatment the young

girl suddenly felt a change and said "it wasas if a heavy cloud had passed away fromme," and she was at once entirely healedof her delusion. The next day she cameto my house well, free, and happy. Thiswas fifteen years ago and there has beenno return of the trouble.

Fear seems to be a great enemy in therace thought, but with its complete elimina-tion one has a clearer vision and greaterpeace.

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THOUGHTS ON DEMONSTRATIONEarnestly read and re-read the following

meditation until all insecurity passes awayand you feel an increase of courage andfaith.

Meditation.Since the Infinite and changeless spirit

of Love fills all space and is the only reality,there can be nothing for me to fear. ThisSpirit uplifts and sustains me and its everpresent Intelligence destroys my false con-ceptions, which are the only enemies to mypeace, health, and joy. I now receive andgladly accept the fulness of Truth and Irealize that the Father is demonstratingperfect health in me.

Every shadow is dissolved and the Lightof the Divine Presence shows me the pathof peace and harmony. God is the sourceand cause of my health.My health is eternal and changeless. Loveand Harmony are the reality of my world.The word of Health is made manifest in

my body.God is the health of His people.God is my health.

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THE POISE OF UNDERSTANDINGAs we contemplate the great world about

us, letting our thought run out to allpeople of all nations, we quickly discern thesad lack of poise everywhere, even in thosewho claim to be Divine Scientists.

Poise is needed on three planes : the so-called physical, the mental, and the spiritual.It is fine to have a well-poised body readyfor every demand, and certainly mentalbalance is greatly to be desired, but thepoise of understanding is greater than allelse.

This poise comes only to the one who isso consecrated to Truth, that the surfacehappenings have no power of disturbanceand the deep things of the Spirit arerevealed as an open book.When one is made unhappy by the sinsof omission or commission as evidenced byothers, he shows his own weakness; foreven the simple mental balance should beimpervious to these mistakes.

If the peace and joy of one's own innercentre is at the mercy of the world and

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THE POISE OF UNDERSTANDINGrests upon what others do or fail to do,there is need of greater poise and moreunderstanding.The power of Truth is mighty. We dis-

cover it only by following our own convic-tion of Right, turning from personality asa guide to the inner Light and relyingwholly upon the real Self.The authority of truth is all we need, no

teacher or leader can give us his or herown discernment ; the divine revelation mustcome directly to each one of us; and unlesswe learn to think for ourselves, we cannotgrow.One who is really poised in understanding,

is not led by emotions or governed byfeelings, but constantly looks through allappearances to find unchanging Truth.

But alas ! on every side we see the foolish-ness of men, the utter stupidity, the hurtfeelings, painful sensitiveness, people fullgrown on the outside, but mere childrenwithin, craving sympathy, looking forslights, and all the rest of the "carnal mind"absurdities.

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THE POISE OF UNDERSTANDINGSometimes it looks as if we were but a

short distance on the path that leads upwardto the clear heights of spiritual discernment.We let such little things turn us aside.Rest assured, as long as we can be mentallyupset, hurt, or insulted by others, we arestill dwelling on the personal plane, limitedby our own attitude and submerged inmental shadows.

Not only in small ways but in the largeevents do we need poise.

, We are often asked : "What should beour attitude toward the War?" In reply,we must remember that no one can decidefor another what his attitude should betoward any event; for the attitude of eachone rests largely upon his degree of unfold-ment.

If he looks upon the great war, from thepersonal equation, he will be unhappy andwill experience much mental disturbance,but if he looks at it from the impersonalside, he will see it as the inevitable result offalse thinking; and, knowing the eternallaw of change in the external world, he can

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THE POISE OF UNDERSTANDINGsay, "This, too, shall pass away/' and pre-pare for the peace that is bound to come.The war touches us as it finds a

correspondence of resistance, rebellion, orresentment in our personal thought; but tothose who keep the peace within, there canbe no discord or mental pain, in otherwords, no war can touch the one who is inperfect unity with Truth.Our thought should be a purifying flame,

a cleansing fire going out in love and bless-ing to "those who yet sit in darkness."As Divine Scientists, really believing inour Basis, the Omnipresence of God, the allGood, we should be untroubled and unafraid,with a great unquenchable faith in theUnity of Good and the Principles for whichwe stand.

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, andHe shall direct thy paths.""Beloved, if our heart condemn us not,

then we have confidence towards God."

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DEMONSTRATION OF HARMONYWe are seeing today, as never before, thedifference between Divine Law and man-made law, and in our search for Truth wediscover that, as we co-operate with theEternal Laws of Unity, the old personallaws are dropped from thought and the Lawof our Divinity is made manifest.

Innumerable laws have been laid downfor our body, our food, and our environ-ment.The body seems to be acting of itself, asthough it were a separate personality and

could choose what it would eat and drink,what climate it would agree with, whatenvironment it preferred; but this is onlybecause we do not understand the directaction of our thought and words, it wasnever our innocent body that was at fault,but our ignorant beliefs in personal lawsthat produced the discords.

Inharmonious results are bound to followconceptions of ignorance, we have beenvery loath to acknowledge this, for it iseasier to blame the body than it is to assume

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DEMONSTRATION OF HARMONYpersonal responsibility for the troubles thatcome upon us.

Divine Intelligence has never sent sicknessor unhappiness to us, but it will heal us aswe understand its Laws of Harmony andco-operate with them.

It is not drugs for our body, but mentalmedicine for our thought that we need tobecome established in harmony.Through the understanding that it is not

matter but Mind that is the controller of allsensation, we realize that we have the powerto overcome pain, weakness, or disease.

But we must use this God-given authorityin thought and word; we need to exercisethe power vested in the Self to change allthat is unlike our Divine ature.The whole race needs to be de-hypnotizedfrom the false conceptions that have for solong held it in bondage.

I was teaching a class in a neighboringtown at one time and one of the ladies whocame to the first meeting said she could notjoin the class because she "was threatenedwith nervous prostration." I was very

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DEMONSTRATION OF HARMONYmuch astonished and exclaimed, "Why!who is threatening you?" She was equallysurprised and replied, "Well, the doctor saidso, anyway." I talked to her earnestly fora few moments telling her that the InfiniteMind of Love was caring for her and thatthe threats of personality had no power overher unless she agreed with them.

She then joined the class and soonrealized her perfect health.God has made His children capable of

receiving, using, and revealing DivinePower, and nothing can limit us except ourunwillingness to receive our birthright.We are often mentally indolent; weprefer to drift in an inert fashion, ratherthan take hold of the truth we really knowand work out our own salvation.Meditate earnestly on the followingstatements until you realize the truth ofthem.

MEDITATION.I am the image of God.My body is the temple of God.My body is pure, holy, harmonious.

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DEMONSTRATION OF HARMONYLife is spiritual, not material.Life acts freely through me.I have no fear, since Divine Love is car-

ing for me.Sickness is unrealHealth is real.All of my decisions are for Truth.My thought is now harmonious, I shut

out all that is unlike good.I retain only the good and true.WatchwordThe words of my mouth

and the meditations of my thought are nowacceptable unto Thee.

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OUR DIVINE SUPPLYMan everywhere is born with three innate

longings: the first is for health, the secondis for supply, the third is for satisfaction.Man really longs for the fullness of good,

because he knows, deep down within him-self, that he is entitled to it, and he thereforeseeks for it with all his heart.

Unfortunately, he turns his attention tothe external world as the source of his goodfor the external world is, as yet, the onlycause he is acquainted with.He does not know that the reality of his

being is "God made manifest" and that per-fect health, divine abundance, and fullsatisfaction exist within himself.

Neither does he know that disease, pain,and poverty are illusions within his ownmental realm.

It is a long time before he learns thathappiness and discord, serenity and turmoilare simply opposite mental conditions,caused wholly from his own attitude towardpeople, life in general, and the world.

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OUR DIVINE SUPPLYThe question is often asked: "If man

is the manifest expression of God and iscreated perfect, why does he have these con-trary modes of thought?" Simply becausehe is given the power of choice, and in hismistakes he finds pain and discord, butwhen he chooses aright he co-operates withthe Laws of Harmony and realizes peace.Some day he will arise from this dream

of delusion and become conscious that theKingdom of Health, Joy, and Love iswithin himself and not only within himselfbut everywhere present in the world.The new student of Divine Science is apt

to take too much for granted.He is told that Affirmations of Truth will

work wonders, that he is only to deny lackand affirm supply in order to get every-thing he wants.He begins to practice vigorously, night

and day, in season and out of season, hefairly wears himself out with mental effortshe is like the child who wants somethingand believes that if he cries and teases long

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OUR DIVINE SUPPLY

enough his mother will finally give himwhat he desires.But the great Universal Father is entirely

impersonal and cannot, by the Law of Hisown changeless nature, give anything morethan he has already bestowed upon him.

All true understanding is divine, hence,spiritual; and man needs an increase, notof things, but of wisdom.He must extend his affirmations into his

daily living. For supply he must1st. Recognize the invisible source;2d. Appreciate all that he has;3d. Share his manifest good with others.He must be filled with such conscious

trust in the Omnipresent Supply of all goodthat "oh ye ! of little faith" can not find anentrance to his mental home.

Live every affirmation.Demonstrate peace in your home.Manifest Love in your world.Know Health as the only Reality.Realize that Divine Intelligence supplies

every need.

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SPIRITUAL DIAGNOSISIt seems a far cry from matter to Spirit,

yet many persons have passed quickly frommaterial beliefs into the knowledge ofSpiritual reality.

Man has been bound for centuries andhas perhaps suffered more from physicaldiagnosis than from any other cause.He has been controlled by feelings, bodily

sensations, and appearances.He has been the victim of drugs, poisons,

and all manner of external remedies, and,not realizing that there was a better way tohealth has not sought salvation in the truthof his own Divinity.We are discovering that external meanshave not healed the race of sin, sickness anddisease, and today we are facing the lightof revealed Truth.

This Truth shows us Spiritual man onewith his Source, eternal and perfect.Now we ask for mental diagnosis, andas a consequence the great burden ofphysical causation is being rapidly liftedfrom humanity.

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SPIRITUAL DIAGNOSIS

In the exact ratio that man recognizes hisDivine nature he abandons the belief ofphysical causation and asks to be healed offalse conceptions and mental delusions.

All of this would be clear if man couldbe de-hypnotized from racial and personalmistakes, and his mental home be put inpermanent order.

But man must work out his own salva-tion; no one else can do his thinking andconsequent living for him.The words of Jesus still hold good

"Behold thou art made whole; sin no more,lest a worse thing come unto thee," and noman can retain his blessings if he disregardsthe law by which he receives them.The One Cause of the Universe with all

that is included in its immensity is Mind,Infinite, Changeless, Perfect with its ownthought activity as the only creative power.

It is unthinkable that the Divine Mind ofpure Intelligence, could or would create sin,disease, or death.As man of himself is not a creator, theseseeming conditions can be only reflections

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SPIRITUAL DIAGNOSIS

of man's perverted mental pictures, whichappear through his mistaken conceptions.How, then, is a Spiritual Knowledge of

man going to help his present unhappyconditions ?

First, it changes his point of view inregard to himself; perceiving that he is thedirect expression of the One UniversalMind, he thinks differently and his livingregisters an immediate change.

Second, as he realizes his Divine naturein its wholeness and perfection, he appliesthe Truth he knows to all abnormal condi-tions.He finds the knowledge of Truth a heal-

ing, cleansing power, which destroys theillusion of disease and brings perfect Healthto his comprehension.Man soon understands that fear and

ignorance are his greatest enemies; hencehe substitutes conscious trust and wisdomin his thinking; this leads him steadily for-ward in the path of righteousness and peace.What, then, is a Spiritual diagnosis ofman?

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SPIRITUAL DIAGNOSIS

Man is a conscious center in the Mind ofUniversal Intelligence.He is endowed from his Source with

Wisdom, Love, Power, Health, and EternalLife.Man is never separated from his Source;

as he comprehends what this means, hefinds himself free from all false conceptions.

Being always a pure Spiritual Idea ofGod, His Divine Nature is unfolding inperfect harmony.

Let man declare thenGod is His own Demonstrator.I am His Demonstration.Nothing can be added to me.Nothing can be taken from me.All that I am is Eternal in God.I am complete in Him.

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ESSENTIALS OF THESPIRITUAL LIFEAs we find our way leading onward and

upward, we unfold out of material concep-tions into the eternal Truth, and in theLight of Truth we perceive a spiritualuniverse of harmony, peace, and perfection.

In the understanding that comes to us aswe feel the nearness of the Divine Presencewith its changeless Intelligence, we some-times forget that to abide in this realizationmeans that there is always work to be doneand essentials to remember.The spiritual life is not a life of idleness

by any means, but a time of consciousactivity.

I am sure it takes more moral and ethicalcourage to be true to the principles ofDivine Science than it does to face anyexperience that may confront us.

So I will say that courage is the firstessential of the spiritual lifethe couragethat stands firm no matter what people saythe courage that dares to face pain, discord,poverty, with no fear or doubt ; the courage

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ESSENTIALS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFEthat lifts up its head no matter how deepthe waters of tribulation. Courage is thequality that leads us on to greaterknowledge. Cheerfulness, arising from aninner sense of joy, is another essential, cast-ing out all self-pity, worry, and complaint.To be continually of good cheer lights thepath we would walk and blesses those wemeet on the way.

Strength is a great necessity and for itsrealization declare often: The Spirit ofGod is within me and the Power of theAlmighty gives me strength for everyundertaking.

All of these essentials rest eternally inthe Self and are realized only through theirconstant use. To manifest them we claim,think, and live them, and they enter intoour conscious realization.As we increase in spiritual understanding,

we decrease in material conceptions andmust arise in the knowledge of our Divinitywhich gives us freedom.

Let us meditate daily upon the TwentiethCentury Prayer

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ESSENTIALS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE"Oh, Lord, give me perception of the

true, the beautiful, the good.Give me appreciation of the life that

now is.Give me receptivity, that openness of

spirit which accepts the good from everysource.

Give me generosity to share with all thegood received.

Give me wisdom to plan and energy toaccomplish.

Give me the vision Universal, that noth-ing shall be done for glory of self, but allfor love of man and Thee."

"God's loving Presence, being Omni-presence, never leaves a soul, even thoughman's thought is turned entirely away fromGod. God's loving call is eternally sound-ing, though unheard by the ears that arefilled with other sounds. The moment here,or hereafter, that our thought becomesattentive to Truth (the Christ voice of thesoul), that very moment is our salvationrevealed to us."Selected Bible Readings.

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ESSENTIALS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

IN HIS PRESENCEAll is light.All is strength.All is Love.All is Joy.All is Health.All is Abundance.All is Good.God is the only Presence.God is the only Power.

Truth and Health.

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THE INWARD STILLNESS"Let us labor then for an inward stillness;An inward stillness and an inward healing;That perfect silence where the lips and heart

are still." Longfellow.In order to help our younger students to

a more definite understanding of what ismeant by "the Silence," it is necessary tobe somewhat personal, otherwise I cannotbe clear and direct in showing them whatthey should do, as well as what they shouldnot do.

For a long while after taking up the studyof Divine Science the Silence was a greatmystery to me. My first teacher would say,"Now we will go into the Silence," thenshe would give us some beautiful statementto dwell upon, and we would all close oureyes and think very hard indeed while shewould affirm the Truth aloud, and deny itsopposite; then after a fine little talk weppened our eyes and "the Silence" was atan end.

Being started in this way, I kept it upfor a long time, always wondering why I

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THE INWARD STILLNESSreceived nothing in a spiritual way from myvery strenuous work.

I asked many people how to attain greaterrealization, but received no guidance andno especial help.One man, supposed to be a great student

of Truth, told me that when he "went intothe Silence" he took some Spiritual wordlike "Divinity," then he took each letter ofthe word in turn and thought of a fittingword for it; beginning with the letter "D"he would think of the Divine Nature, theletter "i" would suggest the immaculatesubstance, from "v" he would think of thevision of Truth, etc; thus during the timeof silence, he was concentrating on thesevarious words.Many other ways of occupying oneself

in the Silence were given and most faith-fully tried, but with no perceptible result.

It was many years before I discoveredthe real nature of the Silence and itshelpfulness to spiritual unfoldment.

All that I had been doing so industriouslywas only a form of meditation; and as my

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THE INWARD STILLNESSthought was running along at a high rateof speed, there was no Silence in the wholeoperation.What then is "the Silence"? Listen

carefully, while I tell you. It is the deepinner stillness beneath all external activity,even below the ceaseless action of thought.How are we to enter and abide in this

inner stillness? What are we to do whenwe arrive? These are the natural ques-tions of the new student and I am glad toexplain the very simple process that helpedme more than anything else.

There are three activities to be quieted:First, all bodily activity by perfect relaxa-tion; next all emotions and desires throughelimination, in fact we are to "want to wantnothing," even the emotions of love or joyare to be at rest; and last, our thought byperfect control.Now, when we really feel very quiet and

can rest in a deep sense of stillness, we areto listen with an earnest intensity, in ordertha

Documents

C.L. Baum - Individual Responsibility (1918)