Editorials

THE great prominence given in most educational institutions to the study of the sciences, and the willingness of cultivated thought as a whole to accept their decrees as final, may be said to distinguish the age in which we live. No less marked, however, than this great authority conceded to science, is the very general habit of relating it to earthly problems alone, the deeper questions of faith and fate being regarded as quite removed from the realm of scientific investigation.

JOB'S mournful and rather uncertain query, "If a man die, shall he live again?" has been insistently echoed all through the ages, and will be until the riddle of mortal experience is solved in Truth's way. That it was much discussed in Paul's day is evident, and that wonderful fifteenth chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians greatly illumines the subject of immortality.

AS Christian Scientists at the close of the church year note the progress of the movement set forth in the report of the clerk read at the annual meeting of The Mother Church on Monday, June 3, they have every reason to "thank God, and take courage;" to "put on the whole armor of God" and go forth, "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might," valiantly to battle with the forces of evil until even "the last enemy" shall be destroyed. Christian Science is essentially a doctrine of works, since it bases its hope of deliverance from all evil, unto its final overcoming, upon the fulfilment of the Master's promise that they who believe on him shall have the power to do the works he did, those marvelous works of healing for which the multitude thronged him that they might find release from their infirmities.

MRS. EDDY tells us that after her own healing by spiritual means alone, she began to search for the Principle of this healing and held to the Bible as her only text-book.

CHRISTIAN travelers in countries where men still bow down to idols of wood and stone, are sure to experience a mingled sense of humiliation and pity in the presence of such a strikingly manifest subjection of intelligence to nonintelligence, of mind to matter, and they have returned to their native shores with a keener realization of what Christianity has accomplished in doing away with the grosser forms of religious superstition. That the mental attitude behind any type of idolatry is peculiarly degrading and destructive of the moral sense, and thus at war with all true self-interest, is indicated by the fact that the Scripture writers lay so much emphasis upon their condemnation of it.

IN these days of social, economic, and political unrest, the advocates of each particular doctrine, which for the time being holds the stage of public interest, making its bid for popular acceptance and ratification, are inclined to believe that the peace and prosperity of the world, or at least of their own country, depends entirely upon the adoption of the doctrine or measure which has secured their allegiance and support. Without disparagement of any one of these proposed panaceas for so-called public evils, it may be helpful to call attention for the moment to the doctrine of the greatest reformer and philanthropist, the wisest social and political economist the world has ever known, and epitomized in one brief exhortation to his followers: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

WRITING to the Corinthians, and with pertinent reference to the polytheism which shaped the religious thought and practice of their city and nation, Paul said: "To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him. " This spiritual monism was the fundamental statement of the Hebrew Scriptures, it was the basic teaching of Christ Jesus, and it is the insistent note of Christian Science.

IN the great English classic "In Memoriam," the poet says. — Our little systems have their day; They have their day and cease to be: They are but broken lights of Thee, And Thou, O Lord, art more than they.

THE advent of the Messiah was signalized by the angelic prophecy of peace and good will to the children of men, the "glad tidings" that he whose coming was thus heralded was the long-looked-for "Prince of Peace," through whom God's chosen people were again to possess the kingdom. But when, thirty years later, Jesus entered upon his work of redemption, preaching the coming of the kingdom of God, and healing the multitudes of their sicknesses and infirmities, there were comparatively few who grasped his teaching that the kingdom to which they were heirs was a heavenly one, that it was within themselves, and that the enemies to be subdued before dominion could be declared were the evil thoughts which again and again strove to assert their claim to place and power.

IF there is one thing more than another which calls forth the admiration of all men, it is the calm courage which bravely faces danger and difficulty and endures without murmuring the buffetings of adverse fate. Without characters of this type, the pages of history would be barren of any real interest to the one who desires inspiration for true living, and the wonder is that so few of those who are thrilled in the records of others' heroism are themselves willing to take the steps which lead to a place among the immortals.