Article January 31, 1914 Issue

Uniformity and Unity

ALFRED FARLOW

Until Christian Science could be recorded, as in her written works, and a movement established by means of which a propaganda could be carried on, it was necessary for Mrs. Eddy to act as the personal Leader of this great cause. To this end she formulated the policy of the Christian Science church and placed its execution in the hands of the church's officers and members. Into this movement have been gathered men and women from all walks in life. Some of these have been accustomed to look to others for orders, while some have been accustomed to following their own way. Many of the former need to cultivate greater independence, and many of the latter to subject the human will to the demands of Truth. Since in the church each must be governed by absolute Truth, divine Principle, mere human opinion must be laid aside, else the spirit of independent self-assertion will predominate and the self-willed become a hindrance to the cause, or become severed from it.

The Christian Science movement might be likened to an army acting under the instructions of a given commander. One soldier has been accustomed to a long stride, another to a short stride, but on the march each must company with the step ordered by his officer in order to effect concerted movement; otherwise confusion and dissipation of force would result. Without organization and without legitimate authority, effective warfare could not be maintained, for the officers would lose control of their men, and each soldier would be left to fight after his own fashion, without respect to rules or regulations.

To illustrate: Suppose the men of an army should stop while on the march or in the activities of a battle, and should gather in groups to advocate plans of procedure differing from those adopted by the general of the army, and although still maintaining their loyalty to the cause, should undertake to put these divers plans into execution. It can be readily seen that under such circumstances there could be no posible success. The individual may successfully plan and operate his own affairs according to his private opinions, but the affairs of a company or an organization must be subject to the control of a central authority and conform to an order which is uniformly adopted.

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