Editorial November 27, 1909 Issue

THE ELIMINATION OF FEAR

Archibald McLellan

In reading the testimonies of healing published in the Sentinel and Journal, one becomes impressed with the large number of cases wherein the fears of the patient and of his friends are plainly disclosed to have been "the procuring cause and foundation" (Science and Health, p. 411) of the sickness from which the patient suffered. In such cases one is forcefully reminded of the passage of Scripture in which Job says, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me."

These testimonies, therefore, may be regarded as present-day proof that fear is not a condition to which one must be tamely submissive, but rather a condition against which he must strive, and from which he must seek earnestly to be emancipated. The necessity for this endeavor to overcome and cast out fear is emphasized by Mrs. Eddy on page 411 of Science and Health, where she writes, "Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients. . . . If you succeed in wholly removing the fear, your patient is healed."

Unfortunately, Christian Scientists sometimes forget to apply this advice to their own problems, and seem to be more or less in bondage to the belief that they can be harmed by the thoughts and desires of others ; but this cannot be true if they are constantly awake to the omnipotence and omnipresence of divine Love. The only reality is the reality of good, and this is a fact to be demonstrated by Christian Scientists. That they can do this is made clear in every instance of the healing of sin and sickness, and to the extent that they keep their minds "so filled with Truth and Love that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them" (Sentinel, Oct. 6, 1906), to that extent will they be free from the fears and beliefs of evil in any form. There is no room for fear where Love abides; or, in the words of the beloved disciple, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."

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