Editorial August 14, 1902 Issue

Stopping with the Truth

"But " and "if" are often the danger signals of our conversation. They frequently separate the true from the false, the kind from the unkind, the light from the dark. It is indeed "dangerous passing." Countless comments order themselves after this fashion: "Mr. X. is a benevolent, kind-hearted man, etc.,—but he is exceedingly tiresome. I can scarcely endure his presence.' Then follows a bevy of unauthorized "they says," full of uncanny suggestions, and Mr. X.'s good qualities are quite forgotten by the listener; the high lights are all dimmed by the adversative clause.

To the struggling invalid the mischievous little tempter comes in a somewhat different garb. After the forced admission that Christian Science is healing hundreds and thousands of hopeless sufferers, comes, "but it doesn't seem to do any good for me," "but I'm no better," "but my disease is of a more dangerous type; besides, it is chronic," etc. What a chorus of declarations for truth we should have if we should stop before saying "but," and when fears and frailties tempt us destroy them mentally.

"If" is a bargainer. "If I am healed I shall believe." But this is a reversal of Jesus' way; he said to the blind man, "Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord, Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."

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