Editorial July 11, 1908 Issue

THE WAYSHOWER'S WAY

John B. Willis

Success in communicating an idea is determined no less surely by the winsomeness of the way in which it is presented, than by the clearness and completeness with which it is understood by the one presenting it. If either clearness of apprehension or wisdom of expression, right sense or right address be lacking, the result is sure to be marred, if not wholly sacrificed. A knowledge of human nature, therefore, of the predisposition and prejudice of pupils or patients, and constant care that didactics do not degenerate into dogmatism,—these are prime requisites of a teacher; and they are no less imperatively demanded of those who in the associations of every-day life are trying to bring to individual thought the revolutionary and redemptive truths of Christian Science.

We are all tempted more or less to state the facts upon occasion as we know them, or as we think we know them, with the expectation that the emphasis and finality of our statement, or perchance the authority of our position, or of our relation to the inquirer, will secure the acceptance as true of all that we say. This expectation is often disappointed, however, and we may then be tempted to think and say that a given person is "hard-headed," or "hopelessly prejudiced," "joined to his idols," when in fact our injudicious or ill-timed way of putting things may be largely to blame for his attitude towards the truth.

In this connection, as in every other, we do well to study the methods of the great Wayshower, who was so discreet in his doing as invariably to attract and impress those who were in any degree responsive to Truth's appeal. This is well illustrated in his conversation with the woman at Jacob's well. Though a chronic and aggravated antagonism existed between the tribes they represented, and though her concept of truth was opposed to his at well-nigh every point, yet in their need of water they were entirely at-one. and they had both come hither to get it. Jesus addressed the woman from this simple basis of unity, and with swift yet gentle advance he led her thought, by a path of which she had never dreamed, to the consideration of the deepest problem of her life. His declarations of the truth were both pertinent and pointed, but they were so kindly and tactfully made that they not only gave no offense, but awakened the profoundest interest. Though speaking to her in the frankest way, there was no intrusiveness or aggravating dogmatism upon his part. In every advance his heart was at the front. He thus elicited an answer which appears to have been as honest and direct as were his questionings, and gave the world its greatest lesson in the art of teaching.

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