Editorial January 2, 1904 ISSUE

To Each his Portion

The hope of humanity resides in the fact that Truth brings conviction and content of mind through the highest sense which honest inquiry may have at command, though that sense may as yet be very imperfect. The fulness of its glory cannot be transmitted through human media, but Truth gives assuring evidence to sincere seekers upon the plane of present illumination and experience. To Thomas, a doubting commoner, as to Saul, the self-satisfied Pharisee, and John, the saintly seer, there came alike, though in varied form, the appealing word, "byline" There surely is a satisfying portion for every earnest seeker, regardless of his ignorance and prejudices, and the realization of this fact will increase both our reliance on Truth and our care that we make no mistakes in our administration of it. Humanity's deep need explains its universal quest and disquiet, and how encouraging for us to know not only that there is a disclosure of wisdom suited to every stage and condition of the individual advance, but that it is our privilege to make it.

It would be no great task to find those whose spiritual apprehension is a long way in advance of their sense of the eternal fitness of things, who in the clumsiness and unwisdom of their handling of the word, temporarily rob it of its effectiveness. Their exhibit does not have the soul-satisfying quality, and the disappointed and grieved turn away to continue their search for that without which the heart is ever "an hungered."

The success of our ministry to humanity will be determined first of all by the surety and definiteness of our own embrace of truth. Then by our perception of the nature of another's need and our wisdom of address in meeting that need. To be effective the appeal to men must always be considerate of their present susceptibility. If our address be above the plane of their apprehension it may awaken only sarcasm and contempt, if below, it is likely to repel if not disgust, and herein lies that art of winning men of which Jesus revealed so great a mastery. The story of his conversation with the woman at the well is a study in tact as well as truthfulness. How easily a zealot or a blunderer might have frightened or offended this poor weakling, but in the choice and ordering of his words Jesus has shown us how unswerving loyalty to Truth may be conjoined with wise and compassionate regard for the educational bias and ignorance, as well as the hearthunger of one who perchance was more sinned against than sinful.

As Christian Scientists, many of us are anticipating the most valued experiences of the new year in kindred opportunities to minister to the sin-sick and suffering, and we may indeed rejoice that the truth to which we point, as revealed and demonstrated in Christian Science, is able to silence criticism and convince prejudice, as well as comfort and satisfy "the hungry soul," but we do well to remember daily that its achievements for humanity are to be determined largely by the wisdom with which we rightly divide the word. If we are adequate to the situation, no honest inquirer will go from our door discouraged and unblest, though perchance to-day we can give only an illuminating suggestion,—throw an added light upon some human experience or upon some familiar saying of prophet or seer, so that it shall have ever after a higher, more spiritual meaning. Indeed, our ministry to many may involve the withholding of much of truth until the babe be grown; and this demands not compromise, but alert perception of individual need and the most thoughtful and discriminating adjustment of our expressions thereto.

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