THE statement was recently made by a prominent clergyman that while there had been a marked decline in religion, the present period is characterized by a no less marked reaction towards religion, including the study of the Scriptures. It was also stated that Christian Science is the logical and inevitable expression of this reaction. No deep thinker and student of human history now denies that religion is the one necessity of the race. The tie between parent and child may be severed and forgotten, but the infinite Father-Mother never forgets, never ceases to love; hence the upspringing in every human heart, at some time or another, of the desire to know God. As John has said, "We love him, because he first loved us." Existence is poor indeed without affection to call one out of the narrow limits of self, and character can no more be developed without love than can flowers without sunlight. The pity is that so few have known the Divine source of all true affection, the God who is Love, for the love that comes from this source brings no sorrow, but blesses and exalts alike him who gives it forth and him who receives it.
If we were to judge according to appearances, it might seem at times as if the many were drifting away from religion,—that which binds man to God,—but this is only what may be looked for until all shall find sure anchorage on eternal Truth,—the rock of ages. Long ago the prophet Jeremiah said, "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth." Now Jeremiah knew that there were no such gods, and he must therefore have meant that all false concepts of deity must perish,—go out in nothingness. It is true that knowledge destroys superstition, and Mrs. Eddy says, "We welcome the increase of knowledge and the end of error" (Science and Health, p. 95). With the increase of learning the grosser material concepts of deity perish, but unless these are replaced by the spiritual idea,—the true concept of God,—human hope and faith, like Noah's dove, will continue their weary search, finding no real resting-place in the deluge of creed and dogma.
The inconsistent concept of a God who is admitted to be Spirit, but who is supposed to be manifested through matter and material law, can neither satisfy the reason nor meet the human need of a God who can and will save "unto the uttermost,"—the God that Jesus sought to make known to sinning and suffering mortals. No one can be blamed for denying a concept of God which fails to make Godlike men, and yet mere denial does nothing for mankind. James Barrie makes one of his characters,—an avowed atheist,— say in time of great stress, "It is only the fool who says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" This is true, for as we find the need of something beyond the mortal,—something that will endure through storm and stress,—we are fools indeed if we refuse to seek it, and that with all our hearts, for though the quest may again and again seem to be in vain, it is yet the quest for good, and it of all else tends to develop in the seeker the great and heroic. We may be sure that none of Jesus' faithful followers were ever disappointed; nay, they even gloried in tribulation, for their reward was ever with them, and Paul named it "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
