Article September 19, 1901 Issue

"It is more Blessed to Give than to Receive"

Justitia

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS are glad that their efforts at honest Christian living are bearing such fruits as, in comparison with other good people, enable a Christian minister to give the following unqualified words of commendation: "I have studied Christian Scientists for years, and I never found such a uniformly good people in my travels. They are purely Christ-like. They are all willing to endure stripes, to go naked and hungry, if by any means they may save some."

Christian Scientists may indeed justly rejoice because of the frequent praises of their lives and works from the best men and women in the world. But as a sincere student of Christian Science, I want to say to all other honest students, we have yet no cause to be proud. Our Christian demonstration falls so far short of our profession. We may be measurably gratified, quite unconsciously resting in our successes and honest worldly approval, but we should be watchful not to be satisfied with anything less than the Psalmist reached out for,—to "awake in His likeness."

How much of actual God-likeness do we now consciously possess and reflect? From my own knowledge and experience, as compared with our Teacher's and Leader's exemplification of the Christian ideal, we have hardly touched the foot of the cross. If the honest world but knew of our dear Leader's persistent efforts to lift her students and hold them to the Christ-standard, it would have little praise for us, and much for her to whom it rightfully belongs. Doubtless the Mother is glad that her children, in comparison with other children, are favorably spoken of; but I feel that the time has come for us to evidence to the would what is more praiseworthy than anything the world has yet seen in Christian Scientists; namely, proof of their true filial integrity. We know how much more everybody would be blessed by our devout Leader's consecrated life, if they could but know her as we know her, in every-day living. Aside from her own writings, how shall the world learn of our Mother, except through her numerous children? As one of her students, the very least of her children, I am sorry to have to say to my fellow-students, that the world is much the loser for judging of Christian Science from its students, instead of from the life of its Discoverer and Founder.

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