Editorial April 27, 1907 Issue

ONE OF LIFE'S LESSONS

A recent editorial in a religious magazine says,—

Annie M. Knott

Pain and sorrow and death are not only appointed for all men and women, but are among the greatest teachers, and therefore the best friends, of men and women. ... Pain is not to be treated as if it were an interference with normal living; it is as much one of the processes of living as the necessity of observing rules and learning lessons is a part of education in the school.

The statement that pain should not be regarded as "an interference with normal living" is not only startling, but is contradicted by human experience, for pain unquestionably interferes with the conscious harmony and activity of the human mind and body, and unless it is overcome the limits of human endurance are soon reached. The continuance of suffering usually indicates conditions which may even result in death, but according to the logic in question this should neither be avoided nor regretted. It is difficult to see how any one could accept this view of "pain and sorrow and death" and consistently employ any means whatever for the relief of suffering. One thing is sure, viz., that pain cannot be both good and evil. If it be good, it certainly should be allowed to work out its mission unhindered; if evil, it cannot too soon be overcome.

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