མ་ Harriet Doane Prentiss IS IT not a stimulating thought be mentally generated, before results can It has been decreed that we shall be free agents, and have dominion over the earth, and that everything with which to accomplish the purpose of our creation, and the fulfilment of our most exalted ideals, shall be placed at our disposal. There is in nature every element necessary to bring to expression whatever may be conceived by mind, and a ready response by which it can be made manifest meets the demand of every idea. Primal energy (or the urge of life) is stimulating all things to action and growth, but the course it shall pursue is left for man's intelligence to determine. The great dynamic forces of life are ever ready to respond to the suggestions given them through the avenue of mind, and shape themselves after the patterns suggested by mental pictures. There are two qualities of thoughtone is active and the other passive, but it requires the strong emotion of positive construction in the mental realm to accomplish any great purpose. One might hold himself passively negative to optimistic suggestions, and still not accomplish the desire for health, for the reason that all attitudes of this character do not stir to action the power that builds and generates positive conditions. One must turn his face positively and with earnest determination toward the desired goal, in order to reach it. A feeling of health or prosperity, stronger than its opposite current, must A feeling about anything must be charged with energy, conviction and faith in order to bring forth satisfactory results. Tune your ear to harmony and your heart to love, and you will receive the response of these vibrations. Hold your mind to a continual thought of health, and it will be realized. Keep the suggestion of success and prosperity uppermost in your ideas, and you thereby identify yourself with that condition, provided there is energy in the thought. Bel'eve in yourself and your power to achieve, and you have set in motion invisible cords which bind you to your ideals. If eyes, ears and heart are closed to the concordant music of the spheres, discord will be the result. Our minds must be kept free from every quality of thought which we do not care to meet face to face. Like attracts like, and we can draw nothing to us which does not correspond to our own mental attitude regarding life. Man's soul is the magnet of attraction. God's unlimited universe holds the corespondents of his most exalted aspirations. We were not given desire to be mocked by the impossibility of attainment. Right thinking will put one in touch with correct conditions. Everything which is manifest in the visible world is the calling to life of some suggestion of mind. Thought generates feeling, and feeling is the dynamo of action which determines the quality of manifestation. Feeling controls the action of the heart, the flow of the blood, and regulates digestion and every function of the body.. Everyone occupies just the position in life which he has either ignorantly or intelligently attracted to himself, and no one is responsible for placing him where he is but his mentality. This is a law, and can be demonstrated as accurately. as an example in mathematics. We do not purposely, occupy positions in life which are not of our direct choosing, but it is our negative attitude toward certain conditions which make them possible. Faith without works is of no avail, but a steady purpose to succeed, coupled with confidence in the unfailing response of supply to the call of demand will make all things possible. Faith comes with knowedge. Knowing that one is as much a part of the eternal plan as the air he breathes, and that every bit of creation is a part of perpetual life, will strengthen one's confidence in the achievement of purpose, and generate optimistic qualities of mind which will promote health, peace, comfort, and prosperity. Nothing is ever lost in the equation of life. Love is as indestructible as the air we breathe. Mind is as omnipresent as the atmosphere we inhale, and just as free. Whatever quality of thought we absorb, that we become, because it is the nature of mind to outpicture in visible form. Man, therefore, controls his life and all its conditions, and weaves his own destiny. The live wires of enthusiasm are necessary for the accomplishment of pur pose, but there is nothing which cannot be achieved through the power of mind. "There is nothing either good or bad, But thinking makes it so; HERE AND NOW Here, in the heart of the world, Here, in the noise and the din, Here, where our spirits were hurled To battle with sorrow and sinThis is the place and the spot For knowledge of infinite things; This is the kingdom where Thought Can conquer the prowess of kings. Wait for no heavenly life, Seek for no temple alone; Know what the sages have known. God as beginning and goal. Strive for perfection on earth. Here, in the turmoil and roar, * Show what it is to be calm; Show how the spirit can soar And bring back its healing and balm. Stand not aloof nor apart, Plunge into the thick of the fight. There in the street and the mart, That is the place to do right. Not in some cloister or cave, Not in some kingdom above, Here, on this side of the grave, Here we should labour and love. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox. The Church of the Past and the Church of the Present E have before us a mighty As one rides through the country a church is seen with its spire pointing to the clouds above and near it is a graveyard. The church then stands as the gate of death. It reminds one that his time may soon come. Many go in, but none have ever returned to tell us of a beyond. People sing the song, "I'll soon be at home over there, for the end of my journey I see." This is not right. Even the Bible states: "Broad is the road that leads to death and thousands walk together there." What for? Is death better than Life? Why are people so afraid to die? Why is death always accompanied with such horror? This body of superstition is at the church. door. People go to church, kneel in prayer and bow the head to acknowledge what is taught respecting the words, "Lord, have mercy on me, a miserable sinner." The inculcation of such a notion is bound to ruin all who accept such folly as church service. The Church of the present is known as the Church of the Living. Divine Science offers the suggestion of Life and Love, with Truth as the great Master. We in Divine Science build our hope on the present. We learn how to look on the bright side and omit much that is unpleasant. Sickness we throw away as a human weed. Sin and corruption we have no use for. Misery is no comfort to us in the Church of the Living. Here we enter the presence of God and learn the lessons of Truth. The Church of the present must add to the happiness of human beings. Health must be the Christ of this new way of thinking, where the First Cause is respected and loved. To us in Divine Science God is all in all. 1 Cor. 15:28"That God may be all in all." "The same yesterday, to-day and forever." That is the stand the Church of the Living has taken-recognize God (Good) as first and all. That is how we overcome evil with good. If we feel bad, we give ourselves a good suggestion. This new process of reasoning has brought life, health and peace to thousands of people, even after all earthly means has failed. The healing influence is a great virtue in the Church of the Living. Here we heal the sick, reform the sinner, awaken the dreamer, and teach the Truth of Life. Health and happiness is the result of this new Gospel of Divine Science.—Divine Science Journal. DEPARTMENT Mrs. Rhoda S. Eaton, ວຽງ Jack A Thanksgiving Story ACK was a little yellow dog. His little master, Robbie Barnes, found him when he was a puppy in a lot where some bad boys were tormenting him. These bad boys had poor little Jack in a box too deep for him to jump out of, and were throwing sticks and stones at the little fellow to make him bark. He was very much frightened when Robbie rescued him, and he nestled close inside Robbie's coat and heard him say to the boys: "You fellers ought to be ashamed of yourselves, plaguing a little puppy. I wish he was big enough to bite you." Now, Robbie's mother was very poor and his father was dead, so that when Jack was brought into the family Robbie's mother saw only one more to feed. "You will have to give him away," she said. "We do not have enough for ourselves, and then you will have to pay the license, too; you cannot keep him." But Robbie overcame all obstacles. He worked and paid the license, and he asked the neighbors for all their scraps, and in time everyone was so fond of Jack that he seemed like one of the family. One day, not long before Thanksgiving, Robbie's mother said: "We will have to do without turkey this year. There have been so many ways for the money to go that we shall be lucky to have a roof over our heads and a fire in the stove." Even the money Robbie earned had to go for shoes for himself and his little sister, so there was to be no Thanksgiving dinner. Robbie did not care for himself, but when he saw the tears in his sister's eyes and in the still night heard his mother crying as she prayed that her little family should be cared for, he felt sure it was going without the Thanksgiving dinner that made her cry. Robbie thought and thought, but there was no way he could think of what would get the dinner. Yes, there was one; it made him feel sick to think about it. In the room at school with Robbie was a boy named Frank Reed. Frank's father was a wealthy man, and Frank had everything that he wanted. All but one thing, and that was Jack. Jack could do all sorts of tricks, and his devotion to Robbie and his willingness to obey him made all the boys en vious. Of course, Frank could have had a dog worth much more than Jack, but he wanted Jack because he could do tricks. "I'll give you $5 for him," Frank said one day after he had watched Jack perform his tricks. Five dollars seemed a fortune to Robbie, but he did not hesitate. "No," he said, "I won't sell him, no matter how much you offer." "I don't blame you," replied Frank, "but if ever you do want to sell him let me have him." As Robbie lay there in the dark thinking of a way to get the Thanksgiving dinner he remembered Frank's offer. He put it out of his mind, but it would come back, and by morning he had made up his mind to part with Jack. All traces of tears which he had shed were wiped away, and he gave Jack a good breakfast and had him do all his tricks. Jack seemed to know something bothered his little master, and after each trick would jump up and lick his face, and put his paws on Robbie's shoulder, as though to tell him how much he loved him. Robbie choked back the tears and put on his cap. "Come on, Jack," he called. Frank was only too glad to give the $5, but Jack whined and cried when he found that he was not to go with Robbie. "I sold Jack to Frank Reed," said Robbie, turning away. "He wanted him, and he can give Jack a better home than we can, so I let him have him.” "You sold Jack?" she asked. "You go and get him this minute and take this dinner back." "I can't do that," said Robbie; "the market man would not take it back, and, then, I wouldn't ask Frank to take back the money, either. I sold Jack, and that is all there is to it." Thanksgiving Day, when the steaming turkey and fixings were put on the table, Robbie's sister and inother were the ones who seemed to enjoy it. Robbie did not; every piece of turkey seemed to choke him; he could only think of Jack, and that he was the only one who really provided the dinner. "Some one is at the door," said Robbie's mother. "I heard it rattle." Robbie opened it, and in bounded Jack. He barked and jumped up to Robbie as though to say: "I got here in time for Thanksgiving dinner, didn't I?" The dinner was forgotten, and Robbie's sister and mother gathered around Jack, as pleased as he was to see them. When they sat down at the table again. Jack was in his accustomed place beside Robbie's chair, and from time to time he ate of the dinner which he unconsciously had provided. When the dinner.was over Robbie took "Keep him in for a day or two," he his cap and called to Jack, but Jack told Frank. "He will run away if you don't." Poor Robbie; he ran as fast as he could to get out of reach of Jack's cries, and his eyes were wet when he reached the market. "Where did you get this turkey and vegetables?" asked his mother when she saw the basket Robbie brought home. seemed to know what was to happen, and he crawled under the stove and refused to move. Poor Robbie could not keep the tears back this time, but he took Jack in his arms and started for Frank's. Robbie's tears fell fast on Jack's little head as he walked along, for Jack kept |