Editorial April 6, 1907 Issue

THE ADVANCE OF HUMAN OPINION

Annie M. Knott

No thoughtful person can fail to note the great change which is taking place in the world's thought—the advance from a physical to a metaphysical basis of reasoning. Mrs. Eddy has said that "all Science is of God, not of man," hence every earnest student who seeks the truth will sooner or later be drawn to the Principle revealed in Christian Science, for thus alone can the meaning of existence be correctly explained. When our Leader first announced her discovery of mental causation, the advocates of belief in physical law seemed to have a large majority on their side; but it is steadily lessening, because the reasonableness of Christian Science makes a strong appeal to all who are willing to investigate the subject without prejudice. As a result of this investigation, and also because of the healing accomplished in Christian Science, we find that thought now tends toward belief in the mental origin and cure of disease. A recent newspaper article, entitled "Signs of the Times," says,—

"Medical science has made some startling admissions recently. Nothing is more unique than the theory that bad tempers, unhealthy consciences, and so on, are the germs from which diseases spring. That cancers are often the outgrowth of violent tempers is professed by a number of broad-minded physicians. They will probably also find suitable diseases to accompany laziness, conceit, general demoralization, and all forms of sensualism. ... A man who has great respect for his moral and physical welfare is always healthy. Free of the burden of dissipation, his clean body ever gains in strength. A clean mind, sustained by moral elevation, free from all petty worries, can mean nothing less than the healthiest of bodies."

It is axiomatic that there cannot be an effect without a cause; also that an effect cannot be unlike its cause. It should therefore be very clear that if we attribute causation to the mortal or "carnal" mind, which according to St. Paul is "enmity against God," we need not expect to find good results; but this is the very thing which some good people do, and then think that they have gotten hold of all that is important in Christian Science. Mortals have not risen very far above savagery until they see and admit that sensual pleasure on the one hand, and the indulgence of malice on the other, will result in suffering; but in the very face of this belief the greater number seem willing to take their chance.

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