To students of the Bible there can be no question that real freedom springs from nothing less than spirituality. Paul must have discerned this when he wrote to the Corinthians, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." None would deny that the present world struggle has been maintained through a deep though it may be unconscious desire for liberation from all the oppressive institutions and tendencies of the race. This very desire is conclusive proof that man's likeness to God can never be destroyed by mortal belief, though it often seems to be sadly obscured by materialistic tendencies; and no struggle to reach the light can ever be in vain,—that is, so long as the impelling motive is pure and unselfish. One of the most hopeful signs of the time is the inescapable fact expressed through many of those who have been most strenuously engaged on the very battle fields, that the need of spirituality is felt to be much greater than the need of material food,—the bread that perishes in the using. For this reason the literature of Christian Science is eagerly sought after, especially the writings of our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy.
In olden time the Hebrews kept well in sight the ideal of liberty which had enabled them to escape from the bondage of Egypt. So we find this statute in the book of Leviticus: "Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." This statute was very properly buttressed by admonitions against aggression and oppression, and the people were reminded that the one God, who bestowed all good, must be remembered in every transaction between man and man.
As the centuries rolled on, and only a small measure of spirituality and consequent freedom was realized by the people, we find the prophets calling upon them to rise above the material concepts of God, man, and worship, and to seek that which is purely spiritual. A most glorious emancipation proclamation is found in the sixty-first chapter of Isaiah: and it is deeply significant that when Christ Jesus publicly announced his mission in the synagogue at Nazareth, he read from the roll the words of Isaiah, which as given in Luke's gospel are as follows: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." It is altogether likely that this was a familiar passage to most of his auditors, but there must have been something unusual in his manner of delivering the inspired message, because we read that when he sat down the eyes of all those present were fastened on him; and we can guess the impression made upon them when he said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
