Article October 15, 1904 Issue

Grateful Recognition

WILLARD S. MATTOX.

On page 58 of the Manual of The Mother Church, we are told that "it shall be the duty of every member to daily defend himself against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget, nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind." Our duty to God is manifestly to be obedient, to acknowledge His will as our only law, to be constantly grateful to Him for continuous life, for a perfect body, and for perfect health; to be grateful to Him for an infinity of good things, for a limitless universe filled with countless spiritual ideas, each in its own degree perfect, and among which we live and move and have our being.

Our duty to our Leader is to be properly thankful for her heroism, for her self-abnegation and splendid achievements. It includes constant watchfulness, lest by thought or word we add to the cares of the noble woman who so patiently and uncomplainingly bears universal burdens in order that we may make our demonstrations. Our duty to mankind is to so express Truth in our thoughts, acts, and speech that we may stimulate men to make an endeavor away from sin and disease; to so present the Science of living in all its winsomeness that it will attract all who are weary of egotism and tired of pain; to so voice divine Love that the suffering human sense may take courage and begin to lay hold on hope and good cheer.

In performing our duty to God, to our Leader, and to mankind, we shall have much to do and something to say, and we may meet those who do not agree with all that we do or say. There are some, for example, who find fault with us because we love our Leader and say so. In our Wednesday night meetings many a man partially discharges his debt to her by publicly acknowledging some benefit, derived from the truth she was good enough to see, and brave and loving enough to utter. It is not surprising that men and women reclaimed from misery and degradation, who have been lifted from the very depths should overflow with gratitude for the one who, though knowing them not, has labored with unselfish devotion, to make their individual redemption sure. And it is not strange if the world now and then hears a part of the glad song of thanksgiving, nor is it very strange if the world, knowing not the cause of rejoicing, knowing nothing of the contrast between the hell of mortal belief and the heaven of peaceful understanding, should complain that all these people should express their gratitude and affection as they do. The chorus of thanksgiving cannot be repressed. It has its beginning deep down in human hearts regenerated, it comes from those who are well and sane and clean and valuable to themselves and others to-day because one has lived near enough to God, good, to catch a glimpse of the radiant beauty of holiness, and has reflected enough of what she saw and heard to inspire in others an earnest desire for better living. As a matter of fact, our critics would have something to talk about, if we were not thankful. They would have a case against us if we held our peace.

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