Editorials

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS sometimes feel it a hardship that their friends, and possibly the public in general, are holding them to what a lawyer would call strict accountability; in other words, that their every word and act is being weighed and measured by the standard of that perfection which Christ Jesus enjoined and exemplified in his words and works. There is, however, no reason why this seeming requirement should disturb them, for no higher tribute could be paid to the teachings of Christian Science than is implied in the demand that those who have accepted these teachings as their guide to eternal life shall be perfect, even as their Father in heaven is perfect.

We  have been told that Solomon was the wisest of men, and among all his sayings there is nothing of such deep import as these words, spoken at the dedication of the temple which was called by his name: "Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keep covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. " Again and again has the light of divine Truth dispelled the darkness of mortal sense for those who have eyes to see, and this illumination has always come through the spirituality of some one who, in this respect, has been far above his fellows.

A suppositional gust of evil in this evil world is the dark hour that precedes the dawn. This gust blows away the baubles of belief, for there is in reality no evil, no disease, no death; and the Christian Scientist who believes that he dies, gains a rich blessing of disbelief in death, and a higher realization of heaven.

DURING the month of July the city of Geneva devoted itself to the grateful task of doing honor to the memory of its most noted citizen, John Calvin, who was born July 10, 1509. It is perhaps little wonder that after the lapse of four hundred years widely differing opinions should exist as to the character and work of this great reformer, but it is cheering to know that the truth, which the truly great love and serve, most surely vindicates them as humanity comes to recognize and appreciate those who have done the most for the race.

THE call of Christian Science is a call to deep and continuous thoughtfulness, to the fulfilment of the word of the Lord which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "Come now. and let us reason together;" and by Ezekiel when he declared, "They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

THE late Edward A. Kimball, C.

LONG ago, the prophet Jeremiah said, "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed. " Just before this he had deplored the mortal tendency to turn away from God, — "the fountain of living waters," — and to seek help elsewhere.

WHEN one thinks of the amount of unmerited sickness and suffering endured by Christian people in all the centuries, and remembers that the removal of this pitiful human handicap was included in the Master's purpose and plans for the world's redemption, some larger sense is gained of the vastness of the loss to the Christian world involved in the lapse of that spiritual healing which was the distinctive feature of our Lord's earthly ministry, and which Christian Science has again inaugurated. And yet this is but a minor part, surely, of the totality of loss.

THE trend of popular thought for many years has been toward scientific methods, and some teachers of physical science have admitted that sooner or later these methods must also be applied to religion. They, however, have failed to see that in the study of spiritual Science evil cannot be admitted as a factor, since God, the Principle of being, the only cause and creator, is good and good alone: hence evil is no part of His infinite manifestation.

IT is a great thing to be an honest man, to deal squarely with one's neighbor, one's ideal, one's better self, one's God, — to be entirely worthy of confidence, to be genuine through and through, — and the value of Christian Science lies in part in this, that it gives us the Principle and rule by which we may reach this splendid achievement. Honesty, in the best sense, includes everything in the line of duty, it is the sum and substance of true living.