Article January 4, 1913 Issue

CLEANSING WATERS

HELEN FRIEND–ROBINSON.

The faithful Christian Scientist who continually prays with the psalmist: "Creat in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me," has opened the floodgates of heaven, through which pours out an inexhaustible and never-failing stream of love; the love that today as of yore "healeth all thy diseases" as well as "forgiveth all thine iniquities." Bathing in these cleansing waters, through the washing of regeneration, he daily proves for himself that true cleanliness is not only next to godliness, but is godliness. He is not only trying to wash himself spiritually clean, but he is also gently leading others to this baptismal font, as he goes on his way rejoicing in these twofold blessings.

Because of the dust and heat of the eastern countries, it was customary in ancient times to wash the hands before and after each meal; it was also the custom for a traveler to wash the feet upon entering a house as guest, not only out of respect to his host but as a means of refreshing himself as well. Being fully aware of these customs, it is not to be wondered at that the Pharisee who invited Jesus to dine with him (as related in the gospel of St. Luke) marveled because his exalted guest had ignored these requirements and had sat down to dinner without first having performed the customary ablutions. It is possible that the Master purposely neglected this ceremony, in order that he might teach the Pharisees a needed lesson, for he pointedly rebuked them by saying: "Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness." Because he knew they had retained but the outward symbol of cleanliness, while they had utterly disregarded the inner spiritual purification and the love of God which were the signs of true fellowship, or "God with us," demanded of them by the Christ, the Master's words, "These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone," constituted a wholesome and merited rebuke which should have silenced forever all pharisaical forms and practises.

Prior to learning the way in Christian Science, most students have run the gamut of hygienic methods, in their futile efforts to find health of body and peace of mind. In fact the life of the average person in the old regime has been so dominated by material theories that he has welcomed almost any change from this bondage. When through much tribulation he finally turns to Christian Science and finds health and happiness, after all other means have failed, he then learns that real health is spiritual and that all the old health theories profit him nothing. He now finds that God, whom he has been ignorantly worshiping, is an ever–present help in all his needs, mental, moral, and physical.

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