runs away on some other quest. What did he want with that bud, I wonder? Was it for food, or bric-a-brac, or a plaything for the babies? Never mind, I shall never know, and I prepare to read again. But what's this? Here is my ant returning, and accompanied by some friends. They disappear in the canon, helpfulness and interest in every wave of their feelers. Their heads come into sight again, and yes, they have the bud. Now, indeed, events move, and the burden travels rapidly across the smooth courtyard toward the house. Can they intend to take it up on the flat roof, where we have lately suspected a nest? Yes, there they go straight up the wall, all putting their shoulder to the wheel, and resting now and then in the chinks of the crumbling adobes. Up the bud moves to the gutters-I can see it gleam as it is pulled over the edge;-they are out of sight, the task is done. How easy any undertaking, I think, when people are willing to help.”

Fifth Congress of the International Divine Science Association.

LET EVERY ONE attend, WHO CAN.

The International Divine Science Association, organized at HOME College May 17th, 1892, has called its fifth Congress, to be held in ODD FELLOWS HALL, MARKET AND SEVENTH STREETS, SAN FRANCISCO, NOVEMBER 14TH TO 19TH, INCLUSIVE, 1899.

We are organized in the unity of Good, the Truth of God, for the promulgation of Divine Science, the God idea of perfect unity, harmony and wholeness.

The idea of the Association is, that we shall come together, not simply to minimize differences, and harmonize conditions, but to further make known the Truth, and advance the cause, which is unity itself. With this end in view, let all who learn of this Science Congress work for it as for the cause of Truth and Freedom, and let us come together in this consciousness, and compare our methods of practice to the end of advancing the cause of Divine Science.

You who read this, also your friends, and all who learn of this Congress, are cordially invited to attend, and take part in making this meeting a grand success. The friends of our Golden State are particularly requested to work in every practical way for this gathering, and for this cause discovered and founded in San Francisco. We expect that the most advanced teachers and healers will be present, and participate.

The Congress work is advancing, and we have every reason to believe that this Congress, based in the Unity of Spirit, will be more enjoyable, practical, and far reaching than any previously held. There will probably be three sessions each day, and more time will be devoted to testimonials-the good resulting from the study and practice of Science.

Members are responding with their dues, and speakers are sending in their subjects. It is desirable to have the program printed in full, in time to give it a wide circulation before the Congress convenes. So, if all the speakers will respond at once, it will aid us greatly in advancing the work.

Send us names and addresses of speakers whom you would like to have invited, and of friends whom you would like to have receive a notice of the Congress. By attending to this promptly, you will do a loving work for humanity, and good service in advancing the cause of Truth. Let us hear from you at an early date.

The four congresses that have been held by the I. D. S. A. have been of inestimable advantage to all Scientists, and to the cause at large. They have been living demonstrations of harmony, and have broken down the general" feeling of prejudice against organized effort, so that Scientists are endeavoring to unify their effort in systematic and orderly ways; but as a body we need more light in this regard, more system, and general co-operation. Let us continue in the good way, in which we have made a good beginning.

HOW TO HELP THE CONGRESS, FINANCIALLY.

The expenses of the Congress, and all the Association work, depend entirely upon the fees and dues of members, and donations of friends. It is time for all members who have not paid, to pay their dues for '98 and '99.

All who accept the principles of the Articles of Association may, upon application, be enrolled as members. Membership fee, $1.00, to be paid at time of joining the Association. Yearly dues, $1.00, to be paid annually, commencing May 1st, following the time of joining the Association. Those who send $2.00 or more will be credited with membership fee and one year's dues from May 1899, to May 1900. In sending money, please mention your wish in the matter, whether it is for membership, or a donation, that it may be properly registered.

Whatever amount you may feel disposed to give will be thankfully received. Every little helps in making up the sum necessary.

Send all remittances payable to the International Divine Science Association, 3360 Seventeenth Street, San Francisco, California.

Please send remittances at an early date.

Our good friends, Mrs. Rosalthea Daniels and William H. Daniels, so long associated with Divine Science work, and so well known to readers of HARMONY, are now in Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Daniels has long been connected with the Ladies' Home Journal, and is still with the Curtis Publishing Co., though his work is now in connection with the Saturday Evening Post, published by that company.

A lovely letter from Mrs. Daniels, voices the love and interest they feel in the cause, and the help and comfort and success which the consciousness of Truth has always been.

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE LESSONS.

October 1st.

JOY IN GOD'S HOUSE.-Psalm 122.

GOLDEN TEXT :-"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."-Psalm 122: 1.

THE

HE house of the Lord is that which is built by Him, and in which He dwells. Therefore to "go into the house of the Lord," is to bring all our thoughts into the consciousness that the only true, peaceful abidingplace, is where all belongs to Him in "That house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

"Our feet shall stand within thy gates," that is, our understanding shall be established within Unity where is perfect harmony. Unity is to be joined closely, one to another, compact together. To be thus established is to know God's prosperity, and to be filled with gladness and thankfulness for it.

In the house of the Lord we find all the tribes of Israel, all the children of God, Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant, the people of all nationalities.

The Thrones of Judgment," are the places in life's experiences where the consciousness of Unity and Harmony comes forth into recognition and cuts off beliefs in separateness, and breaks down all the barriers which man has built that seem to divide him from his fellow-man.

When the house of God is built in the City of Peace, Isaiah prophesies that "there shall be no more wars," and nations" shall beat their swords into plough-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks." Let us pray for the speedy coming of that time when the whole world shall recognize themselves as one family, dwelling in the Father's house.

October 8th.

HAMAN'S PLOT AGAINST THE JEWS.-Esther 3: 1-11.

GOLDEN TEXT:-" If God be for us, who can be against us ?"—Romans 8: 31.

This Book of Esther, be it story or history, represents the power of Good overruling the seeming great influence of evil. Envy and hatred oft seem to be the power in the so-called high places of the world. And for a time it

may seem as if God's child, who is trying to follow only Truth, and not bow down to individual opinion, nor worship personality, has very little chance for protection or help.

There was one mistake made by Mordecai and Esther, that was productive of confusion. It is always a mistake to be afraid to have that which is true made known for fear of arousing the opposition of evil. And Mordecai made that error when he cautioned Esther not to show that she belonged to the Jewish nation. Esther, left to herself, would probably have been fearless, but she listened to Mordecai, and followed his injunction instead of hearkening to her own true spirit. And by that very fear she put not only her own

life in danger, but all those of her nationality. For it is not at all likely that the king would have been persuaded to allow the decree against the Jews to be made if he had known that it included his beloved queen, and also the man who had saved his life.

Haman, like many in our day, because he saw cause for offense in one man, must needs include all his fellow-countrymen in his revengeful hatred -and thus preparing for himself the greater condemnation, as we shall see in the latter part of the account.

All seems prospering now for the evil-doer, but it will not be so long. All things are working together for good in spite of appearances.

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" We, who know the Omnipresence of God, know that He is in all things and all people, therefore, there is no place where he is not, and He cannot be working against himself. Hence, He always is for us and never can be against us, and if we recognize this fact, we will be at peace at all times.

October 15th.

ESTHER PLEADING FOR HER PEOPLE.-Esther 8: 3-8, 15-17.

Golden Text:—“ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”—Psalm 37: 5.

In the first half of this Book evil seems to have all the power, but the latter part shows that God has been the ruling power all the time. Prosperity and honor become the portion of those who have claimed God's help; and error causes its own destruction.

Haman's vanity and self-importance so blinds his judgment that when he is asked: "What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?" believing it to mean himself, he mentions all that he thinks will make him appear great in the eyes of the people. But to his utter humiliation, he has to bestow them upon the man whom he calls his worst enemy.

Esther, relying upon God's help in the cause of justice and right, takes her life in her hands and goes unbidden into the presence of the king to plead for the life of her people. She is successful, and prosperity and gladness come again to the Jews; and the very preparations that Haman made for the destruction of his enemy made his downfall the more speedy and complete. He was hanged on the gallows prepared by himself for his rival. Thus does error outwit itself.

The mistake made by Mordecai and Esther in the beginning could not prevent their good from coming to them, nor could any great evil befall them while they trusted in God; but it only made their path to it a more circuitous

one.

It is well for us to remember that we have but to commit our ways unto the Lord; rule our lives according to the principle of unselfish love, and God will direct our path aright. We have nothing to fear-there is nothing opposed to God's will.

October 22d.

EZRA'S JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.-Ezra 8: 21-32.

GOLDEN TEXT :-" The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him." Ezra 8: 22.

In the time of Darius the enemies of the Jews tried to hinder the building of the Temple at Jerusalem, but they only succeeded in bringing the

attention of the king to the work, and through his aid and protection it was the more quickly completed. And now, in Artaxerxes' time, they still had the favor of the king, and he had given them gold and silver and very precious vessels for the furnishing of the Temple.

Now Ezra and the various chiefs and their families were to take these offerings up to Jerusalem. But enemies were to be encountered on their way, and they paused to consider how their treasures should be protected. They had proclaimed that, "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him;" so they soon decided that there was but one thing for them to do: to go straight ahead, trusting in God's protecting care over His own, rather than in the power of numbers. And so doing they reached the end of their journey iu safety.

If man claimed the protection of God for himself, with perfect faith that God's power is all there is, he would pass safely through every danger. There is no spot in which the Omnipotent Power of God is not present; let us therefore affirm that there is nothing to fear, in the midst of the greatest apparent confusion, looking to God in perfect trust that He will show us the way out.

Fear is doubt of God's perfect goodness, and that doubt prevents the God-life within man from coming forth in its fullest knowledge and power. Fear also hinders us from hearing the still small voice that speaks within our consciousness, and will guide us if we will but quietly listen.

October 29th.

PSALMS OF DELIVERANCE.-Psalms 85 and 126.

GOLDEN TEXT. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”—Psalm 126: 5.

While we see God apart from man, we shall be able to believe Him angry with man. But knowing God manifest in man, we know He cannot be angry with Himself. We only find a God of wrath when we do not look for Him within the inner temple, the "Living temple which we are."

When we look within we find that His attributes are Mercy and Truth, Righteousness and Peace. We know Truth is in the earth, and Righteous

ness comes forth from the heaven within. Then shall we see the salvation of God, which is to know Him, not as a stern, relentless judge, but as the loving Father, who brings to us nothing but good, and delivers us from all fear.

Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Not blessed because they mourn, but because they shall find where true comfort is. David says, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Not because they sow in tears, but because they sow good seed which they shall reap in joy. The harvest shall be of joy because the true state of life is gladness. Sorrow proceeds from our idea of separateness from God and man. we turn our minds away from captivity to this idea, we find that the precious seed of Life God planted within us, is all peace and joy and righteousness.

SARAH A. ECKMAN.

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