Editorial September 14, 1918 Issue

Atmosphere

William D. McCrackan

God's control extends over the atmosphere as truly as it does over human thought. Man abiding in at-one-ment with God cannot be victimized by undue heat or cold, dampness or dryness, by wind, hail, or electricity. Destructive physical phenomena do not proceed from the all-loving Father. Christian Science clearly indicates the mental origin of such phenomena and provides for their control by the divine Mind. Since no satisfactory definition of matter has ever been given except in terms of mind, therefore dominion over physical conditions, in order to be truly effective, is to be exercised through the power of right thinking. In defining the kingdom of heaven in the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 590), Mrs. Eddy uses the words, "The reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme."

The true atmosphere is, therefore, always harmonious, and the belief that atmosphere is physical can be properly controlled by the spiritual realization of the kingdom of heaven. An almost illimitable prospect of good deeds opens before the Christian Scientist who applies this understanding. The farmer, the seaman, the traveler, the merchant, the father, the mother, the child, as well as those engaged in the various activities of the Christian Science movement, can be certain that the elements cannot hinder right purpose or separate man from the love of God. The science of this is made clear by Mrs. Eddy's teachings, which show fear to be groundless, in that it is based on mystery, and science dissipates mystery.

As long as scholastic theology dominated thought with its teaching that Jesus was God, the Master's example in stilling the storm was made of none effect. Christ Jesus described himself as the Son of God, and John declared, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." A true follower of the Master will therefore learn to bring the atmosphere and the elements into obedience to God even as the great Exemplar has shown that this should be done. The hurricane, the killing frost, the electric flash, are but manifestations of mortal mind and so amenable to treatment by spiritual understanding. The mysticism of material phenomena has been scientifically and finally explained away by Christian Science. Their sharp thrusts can be turned aside by the realization of the truth about them.

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