Editorial January 20, 1906 Issue

Liberation

Annie M. Knott

Many are gratefully acknowledging the liberation of thought that has come to them through our revered Leader's recent utterance on the spiritual significance of Christmas, which appeared in the New York World and was republished in the Christian Science Sentinel and Journal. Many were indeed glad to respond to this loving call to turn away from the material and limited sense of the Christ-appearing and contemplate its higher meaning, so wonderfully expressed by her when she says, "It represents the eternal informing Soul recognized only in harmony, in the beauty and bounty of Life everlasting,—the truth that is Life,—the Life that heals and saves mankind." As we ponder these words we can but think how much we have missed in holding and serving a lesser sense of Christmas; then we rejoice that the higher lessons are coming as we are ready for them, and that no good is lost in following Truth.

A dear Scientist wrote her teacher that she had prepared a gift for the latter, when our Leader's words on "The Significance of Christmas" appeared in the Sentinel. She at once felt that a Christian Scientist ought to have a truer gift to offer her teacher than a material one, and she accordingly began to gather up some of the fruits of Spirit,—some precious records of the triumphs of Truth and Love in the overcoming of disease and sin; in the maturing of long-delayed "buds of promise,"—these were sent instead of a material offering and greatly gladdened the heart of the recipient.

Through many experiences Christian Scientists are learning to prize above all else the realities of being,—the things which "neither moth nor rust doth corrupt" nor thieves break through and steal; and, thanks to our Leader's teaching, these things no longer seem to be impalpable abstractions, but, to quote St. Paul, "enduring substance." Well might Peter and John make light of it, that of "silver and gold" they had "none," when at the Beautiful gate they were able to offer the man lame from his birth the priceless gift of healing, and say, in the name of Christ, "Rise up and walk."

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