ALMOST everybody reads newspapers. The individual as well as the nation can be influenced by the news which is sent forth through the press. The education made possible by such means should lessen fear, awaken the love of good in the human heart, and stimulate thought to desire greater and better living. But, alas, the business of publishing does not always bring forth good fruit. Therein lies its danger. This danger Christian Scientists can help to allay through the power of right thinking.
The public thought is oftentimes stirred by press reports which appear in the daily newspapers as front-page news. Such news is frequently sensational, telling of some disaster which may implant fear in the consciousness of the reader and produce baneful results. At such times of evil suggestion it is well for the soldier of God to stand guard over his mental household and refuse to take such falsity into his thinking. He must know that in reality God, good, governs all.
One who was suffering from a malignant disease sought help in Christian Science. The practitioner did faithful work, but seemingly there was no response. Then it was found that the patient had previously read a paper in which the disease was described and a chart drawn, explaining its location and symptoms. She had, it seems, been greatly disturbed and found it difficult to forget the picture. She was cured quickly and permanently when this false image was removed from her thought by Christian Science treatment.
In some manner the miasma of exploited error must be counteracted if the sin and disease accruing therefrom are to be destroyed and the human race protected. The Christian Science periodicals are meeting the need of many, carrying to homes and offices their messages of love and information, which purify, instruct, heal, and uplift the receptive thought. The truth which Christian Science is sending forth into human thought is having an effect; for the belief in a matter-world is changing, and there is being adopted in its place the true premise that existence is spiritual. This changing, or exchanging, process, which is wholly mental, is bringing mythical human theories and isms to the surface, causing them to disappear.
As the human belief in materiality is given up for the spiritual idea, or spiritual fact, there is brought into play an activity which Mrs. Eddy has called "chemicalization." This word is of vast importance to the student. It is worthy of much pondering, and needs to be comprehended scientifically. Mrs. Eddy fully and clearly defines it in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she says (pp. 168, 169), "By chemicalization I mean the process which mortal mind and body undergo in the change of belief from a material to a spiritual basis." On pages 96 and 97 of this same textbook Mrs. Eddy further explains the warfare between good and evil. She says (p. 96): "Mortal error will vanish in a moral chemicalization. This mental fermentation has begun, and will continue until all errors of belief yield to understanding. Belief is changeable, but spiritual understanding is changeless."
With this basic truth in thought one need not be dismayed by the seeming appearance of error, nor doubt its ultimate destruction. Knowing the truth about any phase of evil frees one, and the truth about evil is its nothingness. God made all, governs all, and pronounced all that He made good. Accepting the perfection of God's universe is equivalent to the rejection of all the claims of evil as unreal and powerless. That is, when we accept and respond to the truth of the allness of God, infinite good, we begin to lose our fear and love of evil, and there is a lessening response to its suggestions, due to our increasing perception of and faith in all that is beautiful, grand, and true.
Backed by faith and understanding, the student of Christian Science is unafraid when handling evil, as he has enlisted to do, for he knows that in unity with divine Mind his protection and success are assured. He who mentally dwells "in the secret place of the most High" abides in the conscious realization of the presence and active power of infinite good. In such abiding, whether one is in the business world or the home environment, "there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." Let us strive to dwell "in the secret place" of good, rather than only visit it in time of need. Such dwelling will prove a present help, and will prevent the receiving of false impressions.
The line of least resistance—that is, thinking as others think and doing as others do—does not result in a mental state which is wise enough or strong enough to turn against the current of false human opinions with the understanding which nullifies them. False psychology must give place to the metaphysics of divine Mind. All falsity must be deprived of its so-called power and prestige. Each one of us should do our mental work to destroy the belief in evil whenever such suggestions come our way. The wrong impression must be blotted out, and the lie thereby prevented from accomplishing its evil purpose. The battle ground between Truth and error is in human consciousness. Every mortal must save himself from the belief in suppositional evil influences; and this can be accomplished through spiritual thinking.
Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 228): "Floating with the popular current of mortal thought without questioning the reliability of its conclusions, we do what others do, believe what others believe, and say what others say. Common consent is contagious, and it makes disease catching." If we fail to watch and guard our thoughts, mental laziness may open a door through which suggestion can enter. This may later make its appearance in mental confusion and irritation, depicted as some form of physical disease.
Christian Scientists can do much general good through learning to control their thoughts, to accept and entertain good thoughts, to reject and cast out evil suggestions. They can learn to free themselves from accepting sense-testimony as true, by knowing that God's justice, wisdom, honesty, and love govern all peoples, at all times, everywhere.
Christian Science, rightly comprehended and practically utilized, meets all human needs. This fact should be admitted without a single doubt. The truth must be lived, not merely talked. This means that we must deny evil, of whatever nature, the moment it presents itself to our thought. We should be mentally ready to counteract to some extent the public nuisance of printed matter which is deceptive and destructive. Thus false, imposed beliefs may be exchanged for the true ideas of divine Mind, and the real man—spiritual man—be revealed to human consciousness.
World-wide chemicalization is the result of the leaven of spiritual truth operating in human thought to-day. Prohibition, the desire for world peace, cooperation between capital and labor, are some of the constructive forms coming out of this fermentation, for which we are deeply grateful. When human thought is permeated with the realization that good is always present, front-page news will always be good news.
Daily, millions of workers reach their places of vocation or avocation by means of public transportation. The greater part of these people read the newspapers en route. What an opportunity to influence readers aright is here presented to the press! It is well to remember that hundreds of young men and young women are entering the newspaper field to earn a livelihood. Comparatively few have ideals to steady them for the high responsibility of journalism. "We must educate the public," is heard on every side. Fortunately we have a newspaper which is helping greatly to build up faith in good. The Christian Science Monitor, which is in the business of disseminating news to the world, is doing this.
Our revered Leader turned her thought counter to the current of general belief. She stood alone with God, encircled and supported by the arms of Love. In consequence, she became the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Had Mrs. Eddy allowed her thought to float with the current of human opinions she could not have discovered and established the Science of metaphysical Mind-healing. Those who desire to understand the Bible in conjunction with the inspired writings of our Leader must follow in her footsteps. They must turn, as she turned, contrary to the current of mortal thought, and accept the divine Mind as their guide to immortal life. They must learn, as she learned, that the universe, including man, is spiritual and perfect now, because God, Spirit, is the only creator, and He would and could create nothing unlike Himself.
From such a premise the only logical conclusion is that God, good, is all-power, the only presence, the alone reality; therefore, contagion from the spiritual standpoint must be that of good only. When this spiritual fact is comprehended, not only by those who read newspapers, but by all who are responsible for their production, there will be nothing published either as front-page news or as headlines which can offend or injure a discriminating public.
When such a plan of mental action is followed and put into practical operation, human opinions will be molded, not by the press, but by impartations from divine Mind, which pass naturally from God to man. Thus is Christian Science revealing to mankind the immeasurable influence of spiritual good.
Now peace is not the absence of movement: it is the absence of friction. The real symbol of peace is not to be found in some secluded, motionless mountain tarn, but in the majestic progress of some quiet brimming river.
