"ALL THINGS ARE SUBJECT UNTO HIM."

John B. Willis

An echo may be somewhat confused and indefinite because of the imperfections of reflecting surfaces, nevertheless it is quite sure to retain something of the distinctive characteristic of the parent voice and to enlarge its fame and range of influence. It therefore serves to illustrate the indirect gain which a truth may realize through the reverberations of an opposing thought. St. Paul's recognition of this vantage, secured to his cause through the excitation of human sense and feeling which his assertive preaching brought about, is made apparent in one of the introductory paragraphs of his letter to the Philippians. He says, "Some indeed actually preach Christ out of envy and contentiousness.... [They] proclaim him from motives of rivalry and insincerity, supposing that by this they are embittering my imprisonment. What does it matter however? In any case Christ is preached either perversely or in honest truth; and in that I rejoice, aye, and will rejoice" (Weymouth's translation).

We may be entirely sure that the apostle did not enjoy his own vilification or the misstatement of his message. He was not made glad over the imperfect concepts of Christian truth which were no doubt echoed back and forth by the frowning antagonisms which surrounded him, but he did rejoice that whatever of personal trial the malicious activity of his enemies might bring him, his mission and his message were nevertheless being noised abroad thereby, and through the divine overruling, enmity and prejudice were thus made to contribute to the larger and perchance more speedy triumph of that truth for the dissemination of which he was ever ready to suffer and to count all other things as nothing.

While many long past, and some recent events in the history of the Christian Science movement have tested the patient endurance of its loyal representatives, and especially of its beloved Leader, there can be no question that in the measure of the faith and fine living of those who stand for it before men, these things conduce to the furtherance of its ends. No fact of history has been more fully or more triumphantly demonstrated than the ability of the simple truth to take care of itself and get on, despite the world's outcry and resistance, and if its adherents are but true to the Principle and rule of Christian Science, if they but watchfully and prayerfully "stand by," in every storm, they can look upon the "seething seas" in perfect tranquillity.

The general advertisement of the movement and the focusing of public attention upon its exponents which inevitably attends these agitations must surely make every worthy Christian Scientist more thoughtful. They cannot fail to see that if men are discovering a notable advance in our supremacy not only over sickness and suffering, but over the selfishness, the materiality, the indifference to the general weal, the ill temper, the pride, the vanity, etc., which have so pitifully shorn Christian profession of its power and natural usefulness in all the years, then we may be sure that the trials of our faith will have "fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."

As never before Christian Scientists are awakening to their indebtedness to the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. As never before the consistency, the supreme value and the imperative need of its distinctive teachings are being perceived, and despite what men may say or do, the heart of the world is longing for that which Christian Science bestows. There is no more doubt in the heart of the skeptic than in the heart of the saint, that demonstrable truth alone can solve life's problem and satisfy human aspiration, and they are peaceful masters of the situation who in the turmoil of false mortal thought can say

True things e'er grow more true, and larger orbs
The strong salvation that hath seized my soul.

John B. Willis.

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THE SPIRITUAL ROCK

August 31, 1907

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