WHEN mortals, in their capacity as individuals or as nations, cease to contend against each other's real interests, and unite in destroying their common enemies, they will bring peace on the earth. When the energy heretofore expended in resenting wrongs by attempting to destroy life shall have been turned into Christianly scientific methods of establishing justice by saving life and healing hate, the era of "good will toward men" will have arrived. The horrors of war naturally enough shock mankind; the frightful waste of power and treasure it entails greatly disturbs the commercial world; its aftermath is one of sin, sickness, sorrow, and death. To-day the governments of the nations are setting themselves seriously to the task of bringing about international arbitration, looking to disarmament and eventual world-wide peace. Their action is the expression of an irresistible desire on the part of Christians everywhere for the cessation of war as a means of settling disputes.
Deep down in the heart of mankind there is an urgent demand for peace, for the assurance of unity with God and man, and for the realization of the sweet solace of a Sabbath rest; but this peace must be earned before it can be enjoyed. Generally the six days of suffering have been found necessary to usher in the seventh of Science. "Suffering or Science," writes Mrs. Eddy, "must destroy all illusions regarding life and mind, and regenerate material sense and self" (Science and Health, p. 296). Jesus promised his disciples peace, therefore he must have felt that their desire for it was legitimate; but he also explained to them that his peace was "not as the world giveth," rather was it that peace which ensues after a decisive victory over evil. In Revelation the blessings of peace, such as the "right to the tree of life," immunity from "the second death," "power over the nations," and the final inheritance of "all things," are promised only "to him that overcometh."
While the world is ripe for the present movement looking to the settlement of all international difficulties by arbitration, to establish perfect and abiding peace on the earth it is necessary first of all to obtain a series of victories over the enemies of all mankind; namely, fear, greed, envy, hatred, lust, revenge, etc., that motley, fantastical, and ragged array which parades and masquerades as an army, but which is only a leaderless mob with self-destructive proclivities. In Christian Science peace is not synonymous with idleness or inactivity, but rather with a heavenly, harmonious assurance of God as all-powerful, with a consciousness which is really the very acme of activity and which obliterates discord of every kind. It is the realization of this peace which in the twinkling of an eye converts a life-long enemy into a friend and heals the sick instantaneously of diseases pronounced incurable by material means. But are mortals as a rule cognizant of the enemies to be fought and of the nature of the peace which Jesus gave, which Christian Science explains? Are they prepared and equipped with the understanding necessary for this peace, and do they present a united front against the foes that would rob them of their enjoyment?
