I often wonder to what extent my fellow Scientists continue social relations with the outside world, especially in the line of calling acquaintances. If continued, it is fairly expected that we enter heartily into discussion of topics that interest others. These are, largely, the weather, cases of sickness, acute and chronic, interspersed sometimes with more intellectual gossip. Now, all this is highly distasteful to a Christian Scientist and it certainly comes within the category of "idle words," of which it is declared in the Scriptures that we must render a strict account.
If the precious pearls of Christian Science could be scattered in these habitations of material sense, with acceptance, it would be a delight to go from house to house on such an errand; but wisdom must be used, lest perchance the swine of mortal mind turn again and rend us. I, for one, have arrived at the conclusion that it is far better to drop acquaintances with whom the subject of Christian Science cannot be entered upon without offence, than to suffer the temporary loss of peace of mind, and mental turmoil that with me always follow attempts to maintain such relations.
Science and Health says that "attempts to conciliate society and gain dominion over mankind are weaknesses of the world," and again—"Science shows that human views, conflicting mortal opinions and beliefs at all times emit the odor of error, and sometimes create a poisonous atmosphere more injurious to health than all other forms of miasma." We must mingle more or less with those who are bound hand and foot in fetters of personal sense, but must be careful in so doing to maintain our watch not to descend, even in appearance, to the world's plane of thought.
