Editorial October 2, 1909 Issue

"REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR"

Annie M. Knott

It is not surprising that thought should turn betimes to the twelfth chapter of Ecclesiastes, which begins with an admonition to remember our creator before the evil days draw nigh. Unfortunately, however, the whole of this beautiful chapter is regarded as a sort of memento mori, and many sincere Christians have believed that one of our most important duties is to remember death. It is true that if this chapter be read from the view-point of materiality, the thought of death and desolation is given great prominence. If we look through the windows of sense, the light of sun, moon, and stars will be darkened, "the keepers of the house shall tremble," and "the daughters of music shall be brought low." It was against this very thing, however, that the wise man sought to warn us when he wrote: "Remember now thy Creator ... while the evil days come not;" and one who declared himself "greater than Solomon," said to those who accepted sense testimony, that although they had eyes they did not see, and he went farther than this when he declared, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

In studying the chapter further, we find what at first appears to be a dark picture of mourners going about the streets, and we are told about the loosing of "the silver cord." This is usually taken to mean that the tie which binds man to life is severed, but in Christian Science we find a higher meaning; we come to see that the belief which would hold us to a sense of life in matter is gently loosed, and thought then rises toward the deathless realm of Spirit. Let "the dust" return to dust, and let spiritual sense "return unto God who gave it"! As we learn what it means to "die daily" (to quote St. Paul), we cease to fear death, because Life as God is becoming each day more real to us.

In this chapter we are told that "the preacher sought to find out acceptable words, ... even words of truth," yet he offers us what seems a mournful picture of mortal existence. It is only too true that unless we "remember" our creator, understand spiritual being, the way here out-lined is the way of all flesh, but it is not the Christ way. The Master said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." It was always life with him! Our revered Leader says, "His senses drank in the spiritual evidence of health, holiness, and life;" whereas, in the case of his opponents, "their senses testified oppositely, and absorbed the material evidence of sin, sickness, and death" (Science and Health, p. 52).

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