In regard to the responsibility of Scientists generally for excellence and welfare of the Journal, some points occur to me as worthy of consideration.
In becoming the mouthpiece of an organized body, the Journal assumes more dignity and responsibility in every way. We do not wish to lose the freedom and freshness of the little child, however, in putting on a larger growth. We no longer have the personal motherhood of the founder to look to; but impersonal Love holds us just as closely in the family relations—indeed, we should more than ever regard each other as brothers and sisters.
Are we not rather in danger of doing too little than too much in the way of intercourse through the Journal columns? On one hand the thought arises: "I have nothing worth recording "; on the other: "If I do send, I will seem to be magnifying my own ability and pushing myself into notice"; so we hold our peace. But is not the work of the enemy apparent just here? God is neither remote nor withholding experiences of great value from any one of us. It surely is worth recording that Spirit is recognized as consciously, demonstrably omnipresent. Others may send something better or more important to the moment, which will crowd our effort out; but isn't there quite as broad a field for the exercise of humility in willingness to have our communications remain unpublished after the effort to write, as in withholding in the thought that they may not be deemed worthy of publication?
We may consider, right here, the abundance of the Israelite offerings for the tabernacle—gifts so freely brought that room was not found for them. Still, the willing heart was accepted always, though there was not space for all the material offerings.
They also offered whatever they had;—one silver or gold, another fine skins, still another beautiful needlework. Thus can we not also bring, each one, whatever experience we may have had that is likely to help another onward and upward, and leave it to the editor to determine what is best suited to accomplish the purpose?
The first step toward building up our organization in Truth and Purity is for each to lay down his own personality and think of the good of all; to do what he can, as well as he can, for this purpose. If his first effort meets with poor success, he can try to correct whatever is faulty; to improve himself first, and afterward his brothers and sisters. If any one be neglected or unjustly judged, Principle will correct the error, and he will suffer no loss. According to his own motive and effort, his work will stand or fall.
Again: how can we hold the thought that those directly concerned in the management of the Journal are to voice Truth and not error, to feed those hungering for righteousness, unless we first have brought ourselves into a state of harmony with Truth, so that we individually shall reflect it both mentally and audibly, and shall be willing to communicate that which we have received of Good, be the portion large or small?
A personal experience:—A few nights since, after quite a mental struggle, a quiet sleep came. As I woke, the thought of Noah's Ark was accompanied by these words specially: "Pitch it within and without with pitch." I felt that, like Noah, within the ark of the consciousness of God's loving presence, I would be raised above the flood of error until the storm was over. I realized, more clearly than ever before, "the sweet sense and presence of Life and Truth." The meaning I attached to "pitching the ark" was excluding all personal sense from every quarter.
