On thinking over a conversation I heard a few days ago concerning the former life of an acquaintance, I was very much disturbed and distressed, when these words came to me like a benediction: "Let him that is without sin cast the first stone." What a rebuke! yet the words fell like balm upon my troubled heart. I had never looked upon them with so much interest; but now, in a moment of distress, how beautiful they are to me! What we need is, more charity for our neighbor. We cannot have too much when governed by right motives. Let us do away with this selfish, lying thought, "I am holier than thou." Plant the bulb of the most beautiful white lily, and it cannot grow and blossom in all the loveliness of its nature without some cultivation; so it is with ourselves. In order to grow to perfect manhood and womanhood, we must have good training and cultivation. It is the discipline that brings out the fact that we are all made in "God's image and likeness." How beautifully this line of thought is brought out in the article entitled "Application." Am I to be praised more than my fallen sister, for what I am striving to be? I am sure all Christians regard "seek to raise the fallen," as a beautiful sentiment in song; but, would it not be still more beautiful in practice? Then let me spread the mantle of charity over such a life, knowing that "some day, some time, a sweet, new rest will blossom flower-like" for her, as for the rest of the Father's children. Truly, the faith of the Christian Scientist is founded on the solid Rock.— Reed City, Mich.
In realizing Truth this morning a beautiful idea was presented to me concerning our seeming place in the senses. First, is there any place where Truth is not? Second, is there any place where error does not claim to be? The teaching was this: Where'er our so-called bodies seem to go, we must demonstrate over personal sense, or in some way we will not seem welcome; while by demonstrating over sensitiveness and selfishness,— and further, by speaking the all of Self,— we find the kingdom of Heaven established wherever we are—the so-called indifference (material welcome) also demonstrated over, and impersonal Harmony realized. I had a beautiful experience in this way not long ago, those around me experiencing the same joy as myself. Since the claim of error just mentioned exists in mortal mind, perhaps these few words will help some brother or sister Scientist. I find experiences of others, given through the Journal, a great help to me.— Anamosa, Iowa.
I think here is a thought that may help us in unwinding the errors of sense. Because another cannot yet grasp the higher thought, Scientists individually say, or think, that that other "is in error, and I must hold him in the perfect "—not realizing the harm done thereby. Perhaps, with the thought back of it, this is trespassing on the rights of others. I think there are at least fifty holding me in their "perfect," with the error they think they see in me, back in their own consciousness, — and this gives me something to demonstrate over. I would prefer not to be held in everybody's "perfect."
