Editorial October 17, 1914 Issue

Ignoble Excuse

John B. Willis

Mortal sense has no impulse or tendency that is more subtly debilitating to the spiritual life than that exhibited in the universally prevailing habit of self-excuse. It is a fault which is sure to make itself prominent when men are inquired of as to the non-fulfilment of duty, or asked to give an explanation of their unjust, lustful, or other ignoble conduct. Under such circumstances responsibility is ofttimes denied with a promptness and persistence which belong only to the activities of good, and self-exculpating reasons for delinquency simply flood the situation. The extent and the virtue-benumbing effects of this stumbling render a bit of honest self-analyis well worth while, and in due time the teaching and spirit of Christian Science is sure to impose such an introspection upon every victim of the habit who comes under its influence.

He who seeks to uncover the ramifications of the roots of this error, will find that they are very numerous. First of all, he will note that mortal sense tries to induce us to excuse ourselves not only when brought face to face with the demands of duty, but when blessed with an offer of special privilege. Christ Jesus recognized this last strange phase of the malady in the story told in the fourteenth chapter of Luke, where the self-robbing incongruity of the disposition is shown by those who when honored with an invitation to a great feast, straightway "began to make excuse."

When men are brought to task for their personal weaknesses, their excuses are frequently based on the claim that the ill-doing was the result of inherited impulse or desire, and that they are therefore not to be held responsible. No sane person believes that freedom to do right is denied us because our great-grandfathes may have chosen to do wrong, nevertheless he who in extenuation of depravity says, "That's my nature, and I can't help it," practically argues for the legitimacy of the rule of wrong, or else concedes his unwillingness even to try to do right. He is capitulating with meanness to the utter discredit of manliness. The real ground of every such excuse, as we are perfectly well aware, is the mortal indisposition to deny one's self the indulgence of some form of lust.

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