Divine Science: Its Principles and Practice

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DIVINE SCIENCE

Its Principle and Practice

Compiled from

TRUTH AND HEALTH

by Fannie B. James

—and—

DIVINE SCIENCE AND HEALING

by Malinda E. Cramer

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:6

Table of Contents

Contents

Table of Contents 4

Foreword 5

The Early History of Divine Science 7

Story of Progress 10

CHAPTER ONE — Revelation 11

QUESTIONS TO DIRECT YOUR STUDY 11

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 13

Story of Progress 13

CHAPTER TWO — Basis of Divine Science 14

QUESTIONS TO DIRECT YOUR STUDY 14

STATEMENTS OF TRUTH 16

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 16

Story of Progress 16

CHAPTER THREE — God and Man Are One 18

QUESTIONS TO ALERT YOUR THINKING 18

DIVINE SCIENCE STATEMENT OF BEING 21

STATEMENTS OF TRUTH 21

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 22

Story of Progress 22

CHAPTER FOUR — Thought 23

QUESTIONS TO STIMULATE YOUR THINKING 23

STATEMENTS OF TRUTH 25

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 26

CHAPTER FIVE — The Work of Thought 27

QUESTIONS TO ALERT YOUR THINKING 27

STATEMENTS OF TRUTH 33

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 33

Story of Progress 33

CHAPTER SIX — Prayer 35

QUESTIONS TO ALERT YOUR THINKING 35

STATEMENTS OF TRUTH 40

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 40

Story of Progress 41

CHAPTER SEVEN — Healing 42

WATCH FOR THE ANSWERS AS YOU STUDY 42

STATEMENTS OF TRUTH 47

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 47

CHAPTER EIGHT — Unfoldment 49

WATCH FOR ANSWERS AS YOU READ. 49

STATEMENTS OF TRUTH 55

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION 56

CHAPTER NINE — Divine Science Interprets Some Important Doctrines 57

CHAPTER TEN — Practical Application of the Principle 65

CHAPTER ELEVEN — Conclusion 81

CHAPTER TWELVE — Selected Inspirational Readings 86

All in all—all in All 100

Glossary 103

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 108

Foreword

In response to the ever-increasing interest in the things of Spirit, this volume is sent forth that the strength of its message may add to the mighty chorus of Truth now sounding throughout our lands in acknowledgment of the Infinite Love that fills and rules the world. The fundamental principle of Divine Science, the omnipresence of God, clearly defined and explained, is to be found within the covers of this textbook. It contains the essential teachings of the founders of Divine Science since it is a compilation of material given in Truth and Health by Fannie B. James and Divine Science and Healing by Malinda E. Cramer. This text is presented to the reading public with joy, knowing that all who study its pages with earnest thinking and definite living will be richly blessed.

The Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of Truth, forever proclaims its presence by the utterance of Peace on earth, good will to men. The proclamation of Infinite Love presages the healing of every ill here and now. The peace it declares is for earth as well as heaven; the good will is for men as well as angels. The fact that there is unrest throughout the world and that a will contrary to good seems to pursue men, proves that man is blind to the Spirit and deaf to that Voice that is ever saying, Lo, I am with you alway.

Truth is changeless; only opinions change. Science is systematized and classified knowledge, and to deserve its name must have a governing principle with laws by which the principle works to produce infallible results. Divine Science as presented herein bases its teachings upon the principle of the omnipresence of God, the changeless and eternal divine truth of the omnipresent God, and the laws of His perfect activity. Divine Science knows no authority but this self-evident truth from which to reason and upon which to base its decisions. Its true knowledge consists therefore in knowing the true nature of the Supreme Source and Cause, its action and result, and the individual application of this knowledge in every walk of life.

The metaphysical teachings of Divine Science appeal to those eager to hear law and order revealed as based upon the one perfect Mind. The spiritual teachings appeal to those who love the Fatherhood of God; but so closely linked are the spiritual and the metaphysical, so united are religion and science, that those who are drawn by the appeal of science eventually find themselves religious in the truest sense, and those who think they want only the religious, develop into scientific thinkers.

Truth teaches that man is forever in the Creator and is an eternal, conscious, inseparable identity. Foremost in the teachings of Divine Science as the basis for right thinking are the following: Truth a unit, God as all, the equality of Father and Son, and ALL THERE IS AS GOOD AND VERY GOOD.

Each lesson should be thoroughly studied and practiced. Rereading each several times will open the mentality to the logical, scientific truths stated therein. As statements only they are of little value; they must be reviewed and rethought until the reader finds himself accepting them and incorporating them into his daily thinking and acting. Then, and only then, will the consciousness of the student unfold and behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Each student will receive that which nourishes him spiritually and thus he will grow or unfold into the eternal consciousness until he comprehends the whole, Speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Eph. 4:15

There has been a sincere effort on the part of the committee to keep this new textbook true to the original teachings of Divine Science. The two earlier texts have been woven together and supplemented by more recent material from the fields of religion, science, and psychology. For surely after these years of research, study, and practice, progress has been made; clearer perception of these truths has come; and deeper, broader, and higher vision has been attained.

We trust that this volume will prove helpful to readers, to teachers, and to students wherever they may be studying Divine Science.

Compilation Committee:

Helen C. Ernst, D.S.D.

Irwin Gregg, D.S.D.

Frederick Larson, D.S.B.

Clara B. Prater, D.S.B.

Alice L. Moore, D.S.D., Chairman

The Early History of Divine Science

As told by Nona Lovell Brooks, co-founder of the Divine Science Movement in Denver, Colorado.

In the spring of 1887 three sisters began their study of metaphysics. Their names in order of age were Alethea Brooks Small, Fannie Brooks James, and Nona Lovell Brooks.

Come back with me to 1886. I was living at that time in Pueblo, Colorado, with my sister, Mrs. Small. A close friend had been ill for some months. The physicians were not able to do anything for her and in the spring of that year sent her to Chicago to consult specialists. After a thorough examination they told our friend that she was in a most critical condition; that they could not promise a healing but her one chance was to stay in Chicago for a year and take a certain treatment.

But I can’t do that, she replied. I have a husband and four little children that I cannot leave for a year.

If I were you, suggested a friend, before I made any decision I would consult a lady here in Chicago who is doing some wonderful healing. I do not know her, I do not know her teaching, but I know several who have been healed by her and they were very ill, too.

Immediate connection was made with Emma Curtis Hopkins, who for so many years was an outstanding teacher of spiritual mysticism. Three weeks of study and treatment with Mrs. Hopkins brought Mrs. Frank Bingham back to Pueblo radiant with health and joy. As soon as she could she came across town to tell us the wonderful story.

Friends and neighbors began asking Mrs. Bingham to tell them what had brought about her transformation. Informal classes grew up in response to these requests; she gave in simple language what she had learned from Mrs. Hopkins. We were always invited to these meetings, and knowing how much we needed what she was giving, she finally was so insistent that we accepted. We were, as a family, in sad condition physically and financially but we did not think her classes would help us and it was most difficult for us to undertake anything of this kind.

I, myself, was in very poor physical condition, being able to eat only very soft, especially prepared food. For more than a year I had been praying almost constantly, God give me light. On the Sunday before we were to start our new lessons with Mrs. Bingham, I attended my church, where during the communion service the song to be sung was, Nearer My God To Thee. I could not bring myself to sing the first stanza—"nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee, e’en tho’ it be a cross, that raiseth me." I rebelled—I and my family had had all the crosses we could possibly bear. As the congregation sang I was filled with an inner turmoil, but as the song progressed I realized a complete surrender of myself and of the family conditions in order that I might be nearer to God and so I was able to sing the last stanza with the others.

It was during the fourth class lesson, which eight of us were taking with Mrs. Bingham, that my whole being was completely flooded with a great light—a light brighter than sunlight, brighter than any I had ever seen. It filled me! It surrounded me! I was conscious of nothing but that intense white light! I thought that of course all in the room had seen the light too, but they had not. I alone had had this wonderful experience. I discovered that I had been instantly and completely healed.

Tho’ the actual healing was instantaneous, yet I truly believe that the months and months of praying that I might receive light had been a preparation for the healing which had actually come to me in the form of light.

I love to tell of the blessed change in outlook that came to us; of our remarkable healing; of the quick improvement of the financial situation. In fact our entire lives were transformed. We were thrilled! Who would not be!

We were deeply grateful for all of these blessings and yet, while believing in nearly all of what we had been taught, there were several points with which we were not fully in accord. We did not believe that the visible universe did not exist but was delusion and was to be denied. Our reason revolted at this and we decided that form was the product of God’s creative activity, that this wonderful world was not to be denied but to be understood and interpreted.

We took our stand then and there in the thought that in our thinking and living we were to emphasize God and His action in our lives. We knew that no wrong thought or anything else undesirable could touch us so long as we centered our attention on God’s presence instead of on man’s false concepts. There were other less important points that we saw differently; however, we were so happy in our new freedom that we said nothing about these non-acceptances.

We had at that time no thought of establishing a movement. We discussed the entire subject for our own satisfaction and in order that, when questioned, we could give answers satisfactory to our own perception of truth. And with this in view we began our study of the visible. It was not long before we had systematized the teaching that Divine Science was the first to promulgate: All creation is the expression of God and partakes of the same substance. All of the power and beauty in nature is the result of God’s fiat going forth—Let there be and it was so. The universe of form is the Word of God. It is good from center to circumference, wholly good, like its Creator.

Now let me tell you something which intrigues me greatly and which shows how we came to call our teaching Divine Science. During these early years while we three sisters were earnestly studying our basis, the omnipresence of God, in order to discover ever deeper meanings to this fundamental truth of our philosophy and to learn to apply it more definitely to the welfare of ourselves and others, a lady in San Francisco, Malinda E. Cramer, whom we did not know, and who did not know us, was working along the same line. After many years of invalidism she had been healed through her own realization of God’s presence. Her book, Divine Science and Healing, tells of this.

Mrs. Cramer’s immediate thought was to make known to the world her great discovery of God’s power in each individual life. She burned with the desire to show others that through the knowledge of truth they could be freed from disease, poverty and inharmonies of all kinds. She held meetings and taught classes in her home in San Francisco. She also did much successful healing work. She incorporated her college under the name of Home College of Divine Science in 1887. In 1889 Mrs. Cramer came to Denver and taught her first class here. We found