Editorial March 29, 1913 Issue

A QUESTION OF LAW

John B. Willis

To no teaching did Christ Jesus give greater prominence, both in his words and works, than to this, that he who understands spiritual law can overcome and annual thereby the claims of so-called material law. This was the gist of all his preaching and the ground of all his assurance. It was proven true in unnumbered instances of healing, both by the Master and his disciples, and was so wrought into every part of his life-ministry that it would seem impossible for even those who follow him "afar off" to raise any question respecting it.

Nevertheless, in this twentieth Christian century the assertion of this possibility is tabooed by the many, and a good illustration of their attitude of mind is found in Professor Drummond's statement that "physical science has a duty in pointing out that no devotion of enthusiasm can give any man a charmed life, and that those who work for the highest ends will best attain them in humble obedience to common [i.e., material] law." This declaration was prompted by his remembrance of the vast number of missionary graves which he had found in Central Africa, and it voices the prevailing disbelief that the righteous can be made immune from sickness, or be healed when attacked by it, through their understanding of God and of spiritual law. In other words, Jesus' unequivocal statement to his followers, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you," is calmly passed by as having no practical significance today!

Christian Scientists have no occasion or disposition to boast, but they do rejoice that they have been awakened to the significance of this betrayal of the very heart of the gospel, and they are thankful for the demonstrated truth that "in divine Science, the supposed laws of matter yield to the law of Mind" (Science and Health, p. 484). Their goal is nothing less than the attainment of that spiritual sovereignty over material law which was manifest in Christ Jesus, and they are entirely sure that if all missionaries had had this vision of the ruling Christ there would be fewer graves and more Christianly illumined men and women in all mission lands. They would have gained that larger, practical sense of the Christ-power which would have enabled even the lowliest to apply the truth for themselves, the truth which is for all, whether learned or unlearned, barbarian or Scythian, bond or free.

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