Editorial July 8, 1911 Issue

THE LAW OF GROWTH

ANNIE M. KNOTT

MANY clear thinkers have studied the operations of the law of growth, and have given us some of the results of their study along lines biological, ethical, mental, and spiritual. The great Teacher said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;" and to this he added the significant statement, "They toil not, neither do they spin." The Scripture writers, too, have much to say respecting growth, and Paul tells us that "speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." It is also interesting to note how in modern times some have seen this great truth and striven to explain it to others. Ruskin says, "Is not the evidence of ease on the very front of all the greatest works in existence? Do they not say plainly to us, not 'there has been a great effort here,' but 'there has been a great power here'? It is not the weariness of mortality but the strength of divinity which we have to recognize in all mighty things."

Throughout our revered Leader's writings we find many important references to the law of growth. She tells us that "growth is the eternal mandate of Mind" (Science and Health, p. 520), and again, that by availing ourselves of the supremacy of Truth over error, our "growth will go on until we arrive at the fulness of God's idea, and no more fear that we shall be sick and die" (Ibid., p. 405). Is not this a glorious prophecy of human progress?

Some years ago certain lessons were learned in observing the growth of vines, the writer being indebted to Huxley's researches for many of these lessons. It was noted that the growth of most of the climbers was very slow and uncertain at the start. It seemed easier for them to cling to each other than to clasp the unyielding wall, and in such cases it often happened that the downfall of all involved was the result, until a friendly hand disentangled the tendrils and gave the vines a fresh start. This at the time appeared to be almost cruel and destructive, but it was the only way; and after a little while the vines were doing bravely, growing and climbing, although here and there one would turn back and wind tightly around its own stem, self-limited and disobedient to the law of its growth, thus symbolizing the experience of so many mortals. After a few years, however, the vines which obeyed the true law of growth were stately and beautiful beyond words, and had reached the roof of a Christian Science church, where they repeated to at least one onlooker the lesson of earlier days, and hinted at the growth of our great cause through the steady obedience of its individual members to spiritual law.

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