"In essentials unity: in nonessentials liberty: in all things charity." Here are presented three very necessary mental constituents to harmonious fellowship among men. When these three are obeyed, there cannot fail to be helpful, happy association. The difficulty has been in not understanding what comprise essentials and nonessentials. Indeed, could men only agree on the former the latter would naturally take their subordinate place in human affairs and cease to be the cause of strife and confusion; consequently, charity would be the inevitable concomitant of them both. Then to learn to differentiate between the necessary and unnecessary, between the important and unimportant, is a problem which confronts every one. There is a constant necessity to separate between essentials and nonessentials. Were one wise enough always to give preponderance to that which is vital and never magnify its opposite, every problem in life would be immediately and correctly solved.
The teaching of Christian Science shows clearly that real essentials always pertain to divine Principle; indeed, are only those things which partake of the nature of God. Since God is All, it must naturally follow that all that is necessary, important, essential, must be included in this allness. Every Christian Scientist therefore is endeavoring to reach the place where he will be concerned only with the things of God. This high goal, however, is attained only in proportion as spirituality is won, and all that is of the flesh—materiality—is relinquished. On the way to this perfection there is many a lesson to learn, many a trial to be encountered, many a victory to be won; and the Christian Scientist has continually to divide between the essential and the nonessential. Since he must do this in his own thinking, how true it is that he must allow his brother the same privilege!
With the light which Christian Science throws on Christian fundamentals, it is easily seen that essential things are those which tend toward Spirit and spirituality. With God and His attributes so clearly defined in Christian Science its adherents may therefore find that common ground which will always insure unity among them. Indeed, no two of them but would agree that God is infinite,— All,—and that He is good; also that man's great necessity is to prove his unity therewith. There is no room for any possible variation in regard to any of the marvelous statements of Truth in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. There is therefore no doubt that upon all fundamentals Christian Scientists are already agreed; and although the understanding of these essentials may not yet be demonstrated in large degree,—even though the truths are still only believed,—nevertheless, even in such belief there is unity, and no question of dissension could possibly present itself in regard to any of the basic facts of Christian Science.
