POSSIBLY no subject is of greater importance or of wider interest than that of government. In civilized countries many women, as well as men, are giving serious consideration to the question as to how to obtain good government; and even the youth of many lands are encouraged to grapple with this problem. Recognizing its mental aspect, every enlightened nation is seeking a solution for its problem of government largely through education; consequently, these nations have established state or public schools, and have enacted laws of compulsory education. All of which is right and necessary, so far as it goes; but it does not go far enough, as is pointed out by Mrs. Eddy on page 235 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," when she says, "School-examinations are one-sided; it is not so much academic education, as a moral and spiritual culture, which lifts one higher."
Experience is now proving to many that the good government of a country is dependent primarily upon the good morals of its people. It is not surprising that a nation founded on freedom of conscience in the worship of God should see that sobriety is an essential element of good government, hence should have enacted a law prohibiting the sale of intoxicants. Nor is it surprising that this same nation should have entered the World War with the lofty ideal of making the world safe for democracy. But its people and the people of other democratic nations should not be dismayed to find that democracy, not being material, cannot be attained through material warfare, but must be won through moral culture.
It is because of this fact that the world is in such an upheaval to-day. Materialism would raise a barrage to blind mortals to the real issue, by its endeavor to center thought and study on crime waves, lax law enforcement, economic and social evils of various descriptions. But good government depends upon moral culture; and this can best be secured when based upon a scientific understanding of Christianity.
