Article June 13, 1903 Issue

The Absolute

ELSIE FORREST EARLEY.

It is probably as much the absoluteness of Christian Science that attracts attention and condemnation as any other phase of its practice. The world likes to change,—to move to and fro in its own grooves. "Anything for a change," is one of its mottoes, though it professes to love "the one altogether lovely," who is "the same yesterday, to-day, and forever." Science comes with its mighty statement of creation, "It is good," and admits of no relative positions, no comparable measures. Its condemnation by materialism is immediate and sweeping.

Is the world right, and is the statement of Science but the reckless clamor of radicals? Should it elicit the curse of vain babblings or the blessing that flesh and blood hath not revealed it? It seems that even the recounting of its works scarcely satisfies the world, and we may quickly agree with our adversary and admit the impossibility of satisfying a thought that is so far from knowing its own desires. But to those awake to their meaning, the proofs are sufficient and the hungry multitudes are being fed.

Perceiving the absoluteness of good, does not lessen creation, so we are neither robbing nor being robbed of anything. The absoluteness of Love divine does not minimize our loftiest ideals; the absoluteness of Mind takes not one iota from the universe, and the absoluteness of Truth knows no subtraction. If Science seems to take prestige from pleasure, what does it give in return but the sweet assurance of joys forever, and is this subtraction or transformation? If it seems to take reality from life as a material existence, does it not bring immortality to closer view? Is this robbery, or is it the gift of unseen riches? If it seems to take away remedial agencies, does it not remove the necessity for such agencies, thereby restoring a lost inheritance? Can we call it robbery when more is given than is taken away?

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