Editorial June 19, 1909 Issue

ORIGINALITY

Annie M. Knott

The word original is thus defined: "Pertaining to the origin, or beginning; not copied or imitated;" etc. In Christian Science we learn that the origin of all real being is God, infinite Mind, and originality is, therefore, that which expresses God,—His "infinite manifestation," to use Mrs. Eddy's words (Science and Health, p. 468). By a strange perversion, mortals waste their time in turning away from man's spiritual origin, and in attempting to get something, or become somebody, by taking from others that which they possess, or by imitation of another's work, all of which indicates, to say the least, mental short-sightedness.

To succeed in anything,—to be truly great,—one must be original, for God's ideas all have infinite possibilities and capabilities that are awaiting unfoldment. It should never be forgotten that we must be, before we can do anything of consequence. All who have ever accomplished any great good were those who recognized in some degree the possibilities of true selfhood; in other words, they were original.

In Science and Health we read, "Physical causation was put aside from first to last by this original man, Jesus. He knew that the divine Principle, Love, creates and governs all that is real" (p. 286). We could never think of Jesus as having borrowed his wisdom or derived his greatness from any other, and he was ever ready to accord to others their rightful place in the realm of Mind. Thus does our revered Leader, the most original thinker of modern times, recognize the greatness of all who are truly great. In her "Miscellaneous Writings" she says, "Great only as good, because fashioned divinely, were those unpretentious yet colossal characters, Paul and Jesus. Theirs were modes of mind cast in the molds of Christian Science: Paul's, by the supremely natural transforming power of Truth: and the character of Jesus, by his original scientific sonship with God" (p. 360). The work of such as these can never fail, and it does not cease with their earthly experiences. It unfolds with the unfoldment of all humanity: that is, to the extent that the ideas for which they stood are recognized and demonstrated.

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