Article February 9, 1907 Issue

THE WORK OF THE DAY

BLANCHE H. HOGUE.

Two human tendencies which beset the effort of the average individual in any line of study or endeavor, may be defined as follows: One is the common inclination to look so far into the future for achievement that the consequent visionary restlessness leads to neglect of the necessary work for to-day; and the other, a kindred temptation to grant evil the power sufficient to withhold, until some future season, the good which has really been earned for to-day. In either event to-day is left barren of blossom or fruition. For generations popular teaching has trained mortals into the expectation of a future salvation or a future punishment. It has said, "These things are not for us to understand," and thus encouraged the mental stagnation which waits upon future enlightenment and effort, or the pessimistic spirit which fails to appropriate the immediate good resulting from a present knowledge and activity. This habit of mortal mind has been so woven into individual and general experience that the Christian Scientist must give earnest attention to its removal if he would free himself and his work from its imposed limitations. Unless such currents of thought are recognized and handled intelligently, they measure and cramp, through undetected force of habit, many efforts toward accomplishing the triumph of good in the present hour, and for this reason every patient and every practitioner needs to watch that he is not thus hindered in his expectation of to-day's demonstration of Truth.

One phase of the error suggests, "You are sick, or sinful, to-day, but you may be better to-morrow, next week, or next year." The other whispers. "You are doing the very best you can, and yet continue to suffer or to fail." In both arguments we recognize the mistaken theology which says that salvation dwells in the future, and that saintliness is synonymous with martyrdom and can expect only suffering in the present. Concerning the former, it is better to discern a coming deliverance than to remain without hope, but the lingering belief that this good, although existence in the future, is not yet here, certainly hinders in a degree that instantaneous destruction of sin and pain which is the ideal of the Christian Scientist. In regard to the latter, while it is admitted that suffering has its place so long as sin endures, and that evil claims it can impose upon the rightdoer, it should be understood that the sentimental or self-condemning perpetuation of suffering after its causative sin has been quenched, or the argument that evil has any power to torment him who actually and without reservation commits his way to God, are thrusts of the enemy which Christian Scientists are called upon to prove impotent.

These conditions of human thought cannot be ignored, but must be recognized and dealt with intelligently to insure progress. To know what work must be done to-day, to do it, and to understand what may be expected as the immediate result of to-day's work well done, demands a clear grasp of the possibilities of right thinking, and a broad outlook upon the problems of humanity. Science and Health, the text-book of Christian Science, by Mrs. Eddy, in its elucidation of Scriptural teaching unveils to the world of thought a perfect model for daily thinking and living, and uncovers to its students the myriad forms of ignorant and sinful thinking which would prevent that perfection from being manifested. Furthermore, it makes plain the way in which,' day by day, hour by hour, the present situation may be transformed, and the law of God dominate here, there, and eventually everywhere in individual affairs.

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