Article September 17, 1904 Issue

"Spiritual Co-operation"

LIDA S. STONE.

In our Leader's Dedicatory Address to the Concord church this satisfying definition of unity occurs: "Unity is spiritual co-operation, heart to heart." Christian Scientists stand face to face with a requirement which, like all others in Christian Science is immovable and waits, pointing upward, until each individual conforms to its sweet constraining, for it is based on Love. "Spiritual co-operation!" it is like a great mountain peak, high above mortal motives and aims.

In mortal affairs the governing motive is self-interest, mine and thine, greatest and least in the kingdom of the flesh. Everything is made to bend before it, people and things are swept aside, tempests visit the home, the business, and even disturb personal pleasures. In sickness, the interest in self is so absorbing that loving sacrifice and attendance on the part of others is not recognized. Even the little child is frequently taught the aggressive warfare of self-interest until his natural unselfish interest in others is supplanted by the thought of what can be done to make him "healthy, wealthy, and wise," regardless of the interests of others.

Self-interest, then, is clearly not the motive, in the exercise of which we shall reach our Leader's ideal of unity. That there must be a central point, a vital interest upon which all Christian Scientists can unite for the cure of self-interest, is certain,—something so near and dear to them that no sacrifice of self can be considered too great if this great something be forwarded thereby. This can only be the Cause of Christian Science. When Pilate asked Jesus, "Art thou a king?" Jesus answered, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." The cause, then, for which he yielded up the material sense of life was that of revealed truth, and this truth is brought us to-day through Christian Science. It is this Cause for which all must yield up their material and personal concepts of one another.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Poem
Hold Fast
September 17, 1904
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit