Article September 24, 1910 Issue

ECONOMY

SADIE KIEKINTVELD.

Mrs. Eddy says in the Church Manual that economy (together with wisdom and brotherly love) should "characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church" (Article XXIV., Sec. 5). Many people seem to be laboring under a wrong impression as to the meaning of this word economy, confusing it with parsimony and greed. Economy rightly defined is the wise use of our resources, whether time, money, or anything else. Though it is the opposite of extravagance, which implies wastefulness, it is never to be confused with the penuriousness which hoards up its treasure for moth and rust to corrupt. Economy denies self that it may have to give to others. It is just and generous. It may not support charitable institutions, but it raises the standard of wages, and thus fulfils the Talmudic injunction that the noblest charity is to prevent a man from accepting charity.

Economy enables the Christian Scientists to build their beautiful churches, to give generously to lecture and literature funds for the spreading of the good news. It is the loving economy of time which might be spent in gossiping, novel reading, profitless amusement, or unnecessary work, that gives the Scientist time for daily study of the Lesson-Sermon, time to serve well if one is an officer in the church; time to explain the truth to inquirers; time, in short, to hasten the coming of the kingdom of God on earth.

Is it not worth while to economize our money, that we may give to our glorious cause? Is it not worth while to economize our time, that we may have more opportunities to acquaint ourselves with God, whom to know aright is Life eternal? Ask any genuine Christian Scientist these questions, and he will answer with strong assurance, "Indeed it is!"

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