Editorial March 27, 1909 Issue

"THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM."

Archibald McLellan

Occasionally there come to us appeals for advice in regard to the proper course to be pursued by members of churches in which the utmost harmony does not prevail. Our Leader sagely says, "Great mischief comes from attempts to steady other people's altars, venturing on valor without discretion" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 287); therefore to all such appeals we have answered, in effect, that we cannot undertake to be the arbiter of differences which have arisen between members, nor to advise any course of action other than for those interested to "search the Scriptures diligently," and demonstrate the teachings of Science and Health.

There is no problem in branch church government which will not yield to the demonstration of Christian Science, and there is no Christian Scientist who cannot, if he will put away all thought of self and self-interest, do his share toward bringing out harmony and loving good fellowship in church affairs as well as in every other walk of life. If divine Mind is All, then divine Mind must control in every department of our work.

A mistake often made by members of branch churches is that, instead of using every possible effort to be guided by the one Mind, they talk over their church affairs with casual visitors, and thereby secure the opinions of minds many. It is not every visitor who is wise enough or experienced enough to advise in such matters, and there are fewer still who can resist the temptation to give advice, especially when it is invited. Then, too, advice given under such circumstances is rarely worth considering, because it is almost certain either to be based upon the statement made by the person asking for the advice, in which case it is usually nothing more than a corroboration of that person's views, which may or may not be correct, or else it is given quickly, without opportunity for due consideration, and therefore is equivalent in value to what lawyers sometimes derisively call "a curbstone opinion."

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