Editorial October 31, 1914 Issue

"I seek not mine own will"

Archibald McLellan

Among the criticisms of Christian Science which appear from time to time, is the claim that followers of this faith are narrow and bigoted, because they do not embody in their doctrine the views of others who have thought and written upon lines which the critics believe to be similar to Christian Science. These criticisms are based on the belief that Christian Science is but the practice of human will-power, or hypnotism. To such allegations Mrs. Eddy answered in her Message for 1901 (p. 20): "Christian Scientists are not hypnotists, they are not mortal mind-curists, nor faith-curists; they have faith, but they have Science, understanding, and works as well. They are not the addenda, the et ceteras, or new editions of old errors; but they are what they are, namely, students of a demonstrable Science leading the ages."

The great and essential difference between Christian Science and all other systems with which superficial critics confuse it, is that these other systems are predicated on a supposed supremacy of "mind over matter." These systems, however, deal only with the human or mortal mind, a mind which is believed to be endowed with power for both good and evil; whereas the Mind which Christian Scientists invoke is infinite, divine Mind, the one God and creator, whose creation and works are infinitely good, the Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus."

So little is this distinction understood, however, that it is not at all uncommon to hear persons say that they have always believed in the supremacy of "mind over matter," and they are under the impression that in making this assertion they are paying tribute to Christian Science. In this wholly superficial judgment they have in no wise differentiated Mind, God, from the false belief of a mind or intelligence apart from God, a belief to be governed only by the human will, either their own or that of a stronger personality than themselves. Christian Science teaches, on the contrary, that among the inalienable rights bestowed on man is that of self-government; that man is properly self-governed, not when he is asserting his own will or bowing to the will of another, but "only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love" (Science and Health, p. 106),—a declaration of independence which clearly precludes interference with or infringement upon this self-government by another human mentality.

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