Editorial May 1, 1909 Issue

"AN HELP MEET" FOR MAN

Annie M. Knott

In the spiritual record of creation, found in the first chapter of Genesis, we are told that God's likeness was expressed in the male and female of His creating, of whom Mrs. Eddy says, "The ideal man corresponds to creation, to intelligence, and to Truth. The ideal woman corresponds to Life and to Love." She says further, that man and woman are "unchanged forever in their individual characters, even as numbers which never blend with each other, though they are governed by one Principle" (Science and Health, pp. 517, 588). In the second account of creation, which is based upon the belief of a material origin, and of creatures with qualities wholly unlike the spiritual, we are told of the coming of a woman who was to be "an help meet" for Adam. Unfortunately—for themselves and the whole race—the woman, according to this allegory, partook with her husband of the forbidden fruit,—the knowledge of good and evil,—and together they lost their way to the "tree of life." In spite, however, of the woman's mistake, the promise of redemption came in the declaration of Truth, that there should be perpetual enmity between the serpent and the woman, until her seed should bruise the serpent's head—crush out error.

Throughout the entire history of the human race we find that woman has been made to hold a subordinate position, whenever and wherever materiality dominated the beliefs of any people. On the other hand, we see that when spirituality has prevailed woman has been accorded her rightful place, at least to the extent of having an opportunity to prove her fitness for sharing in the heroic task of elevating and purifying the race, and thus establishing universal righteousness, with its inevitable harmony and peace.

At this period, as never before, thought turns to the life and inspired teaching of Christ Jesus, and it is indeed refreshing to discover therein the honored place accorded to woman. Beginning with the adoring song of the virgin mother, we have a continuous record of woman's ministry, up to the resurrection morn, when the risen Lord commissioned Mary Magdalene to go and tell the unbelieving brethren that he had triumphed over death and the grave. We also read that women were present with the apostles at the founding of the first Christian church, and in spite of some evident prejudice on the part of St. Paul, we find many passages in his epistles which tell of the prominence of women among the early workers, notably in the 16th chapter of Romans, where he classes them among the saints. He reaches the truth, however, in his statement that when we "put on Christ ... there is neither male nor female," for all are to be one in Christ Jesus.

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