Editorial January 3, 1914 Issue

"Yea, yea" and "Nay, nay"

Archibald Mclellan

In the Foreword to "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," written in 1906, there are a number of significant declarations in regard to the establishment by Mrs. Eddy of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and its numerous activities. None, however, are more significant than these conclusions or proofs, namely, "(1) that Science and Health does not need to be interpreted to those who are earnestly seeking Truth; (2) that it is not possible to state truth absolutely in a simpler or more pleasing form." Even more to the point is the declaration "that no one on earth today, aside from Mrs. Eddy, knows anything about Christian Science except as he has learned it from her and from her writings; and Christian Scientists are honest only as they give her full credit for this extraordinary work."

In these days of the publication of so many books presumptuously intended to explain Christian Science, or to elucidate some phases of its system which the writers seem to think have been neglected or misunderstood by the author of Science and Health, it is wise for us to turn to this Foreword and lay well to heart its warning note. Mrs. Eddy, as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, discerned that which generations of the most highly trained thinkers had failed to perceive, namely, the invariableness and unchangeableness of the law of God, good. What is more, she proved the truth of her discovery even as did the Master, by works of healing—irrefutable proofs, however much the law back of them and its action might be discredited by her critics. She, too, could say, If you doubt my statments, you must believe the works which attest their verity, for again the sick are healed and the lame walk through the power of Truth.

It is axiomatic of science that it must speak with the certainty of "Yea, yea" and "Nay, nay," and this is the rule that Mrs. Eddy has followed in all her writings on Christian Science. Like all true scientific writers, she has stated a premise and given a rule for demonstration as unvarying and unbending as God Himself, because God, who is All, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, is the Principle and basis of this Science. As she has written in the Preface of Science and Health (p. x), "The author has not compromised conscience to suit the general drift of thought, but has bluntly and honestly given the text of Truth." In fact this is the only way in which so infinite a theme could be presented with value to those who are seeking the truth for Truth's sake. Here we might say that no one is truly seeking Truth unless he is doing it as Christ Jesus entreated his followers—"Seek ye first [not secondarily or collaterally] the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."

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