0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

                                    "CHOOSE YE" 

 1	MESSAGE FROM MARY BAKER EDDY ON THE OCCASION
  	       OF THE DEDICATION OF THE EXTENSION OF THE
 3	       MOTHER CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, JUNE 10, 1906 


  	    My Beloved Brethren: — The divine might of
  	Truth demands well-doing in order to demon-
 6	strate truth, and this not alone in accord with human
  	desire but with spiritual power. St. John writes: "Blessed
  	are they that do His commandments, that they may have
 9	right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
  	into the city." The sear leaves of faith without works,
  	scattered abroad in Zion's waste places, appeal to re-
12	formers, "Show me thy faith by thy works." 
  	    Christian Science is not a dweller apart in royal solitude;
  	it is not a law of matter, nor a transcendentalism that
15	heals only the sick. This Science is a law of divine Mind,
  	a persuasive animus, an unerring impetus, an ever-present
  	help. Its presence is felt, for it acts and acts wisely,
18	always unfolding the highway of hope, faith, understand-
  	ing. It is the higher criticism, the higher hope; and its
  	effect on man is mainly this — that the good which has
21	come into his life, examination compels him to think
  	genuine, whoever did it. A Christian Scientist verifies
  	his calling. Choose ye! 
 
                The First Church of Christ, Scientist                     4


 1	    When, by losing his faith in mat...ter and sin, one finds
  	the spirit of Truth, then he practises the Golden Rule
 3	spontaneously; and obedience to this rule spiritualizes
  	man, for the world's nolens volens cannot enthrall it. 
  	Lust, dishonesty, sin, disable the student; they preclude
 6	the practice or efficient teaching of Christian Science, the
  	truth of man's being. The Scripture reads: "He that
  	taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy
 9	of me." On this basis, how many are following the
  	Way-shower? We follow Truth only as we follow truly,
  	meekly, patiently, spiritually, blessing saint and sinner
12	with the leaven of divine Love which woman has put
  	into Christendom and medicine. 
  	    A genuine Christian Scientist loves Protestant and
15	Catholic, D.D. and M.D., — loves all who love God,
  	good; and he loves his enemies. It will be found that,
  	instead of opposing, such an individual subserves the
18	interests of both medical faculty and Christianity, and
  	they thrive together, learning that Mind-power is good
  	will towards men. Thus unfolding the true metal in
21	character, the iron in human nature rusts away; honesty
  	and justice characterize the seeker and finder of Christian
  	Science. 
24	    The pride of place or power is the prince of this world
  	that hath nothing in Christ. Our great Master said:
  	"Except ye . . . become as little children, ye shall not
27	enter into the kingdom of heaven," — the reign of right-
  	eousness, the glory of good, healing the sick and saving
  	the sinner. The height of my hope must remain. Glory
30	be to Thee, Thou God most high and nigh. 
  	    Whatever is not divinely natural and demonstrably
  	true, in ethics, philosophy, or religion, is not of God but
 
                                      “Choose Ye”                                         5


 1	originates in the minds of mortals. It is the Adam-
  	dream according to the Scriptural allegory, in which
 3	man is supposed to start from dust and woman to be
  	the outcome of man's rib, — marriage synonymous with
  	legalized lust, and the offspring of sense the murderers
 6	of their brothers! 
  	    Wholly apart from this mortal dream, this illusion and
  	delusion of sense, Christian Science comes to reveal man
 9	as God's image, His idea, coexistent with Him — God
  	giving all and man having all that God gives. Whence,
  	then, came the creation of matter, sin, and death, mortal
12	pride and power, prestige or privilege? The First Com-
  	mandment of the Hebrew Decalogue, "Thou shalt have
  	no other gods before me," and the Golden Rule are the
15	all-in-all of Christian Science. They are the spiritual
  	idealism and realism which, when realized, constitute a
  	Christian Scientist, heal the sick, reform the sinner, and
18	rob the grave of its victory. The spiritual understanding
  	which demonstrates Christian Science, enables the devout
  	Scientist to worship, not an unknown God, but Him whom,
21	understanding even in part, he continues to love more and
  	to serve better. 
  	    Beloved, I am not with you in propria persona at this
24	memorable dedication and communion season, but I am
  	with you "in spirit and in truth," lovingly thanking your
  	generosity and fidelity, and saying virtually what the
27	prophet said:  Continue to choose whom ye will serve. 
  	    Forgetting the Golden Rule and indulging sin, men
  	cannot serve God; they cannot demonstrate the omnipo-
30	tence of divine Mind that heals the sick and the sinner. 
  	Human will may mesmerize and mislead man; divine
  	wisdom, never. Indulging deceit is like the defendant
  
                The First Church of Christ, Scientist                     6


1	arguing for the plaintiff in favor of a decision which the
  	defendant knows will be turned against himself. 
 3	    We cannot serve two masters. Do we love God
  	supremely? Are we honest, just, faithful? Are we true
  	to ourselves? "God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a
 6	man soweth, that shall he also reap." To abide in our
  	unselfed better self is to be done forever with the sins
  	of the flesh, the wrongs of human life, the tempter and
 9	temptation, the smile and deceit of damnation. When
  	we have overcome sin in all its forms, men may revile us
  	and despitefully use us, and we shall rejoice, "for great
12	is [our] reward in heaven." 
  	    You have dexterously and wisely provided for The
  	Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, a magnificent tem-
15	ple wherein to enter and pray. Greatly impressed and
  	encouraged thereby, deeply do I thank you for this proof
  	of your progress, unity, and love. The modest edifice
18	of The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, began with
  	the cross; its excelsior extension is the crown. The room
  	of your Leader remains in the beginning of this edifice,
21	evidencing the praise of babes and the word which pro-
  	ceedeth out of the mouth of God. Its crowning ulti-
  	mate rises to a mental monument, a superstructure high
24	above the work of men's hands, even the outcome of
  	their hearts, giving to the material a spiritual significance
  	 — the speed, beauty, and achievements of goodness. 
27	Methinks this church is the one edifice on earth which
  	most prefigures self-abnegation, hope, faith; love catching
         a glimpse of glory.
Read more