Article December 19, 1914 Issue

"Lest we forget"

J. C. BRAINARD

Resistance to Truth—that stumbling-block in mortal existence which works subtly or openly in seeming determination to prevent the release of mortals from their self-imposed enslavement to habits which are opposed to God—is the mainspring of error which operates to turn the neophyte or the disciple from the straight and narrow path of righteousness and lead him into the by-paths of material sense. Examples for our warning are many,—whether a Judas in his seemingly persistent and dogged determination to be a willing tool for evil's work; or a Peter confronted with an opportunity to stand as a joyous and fearless witness for the Messiah and his marvelous works, and yet led thrice to deny his sacred association with Christ Jesus; or the close companions of the Master, apparently unable to meet the temptation to sleep in the garden of Gethsemane, thus barring themselves from the privilege of loyal service to one who was taking away "the sins of the whole world," declaring evil's nothingness, and also destroying the delusion of the seeming power exercised by the enemy, death.

Are we heeding the lessons given to the disciples, or are we also among the unfaithful laborers in the vineyard of Truth? There is no question in the thought of any true Christian Scientist as to the necessity of obeying in thought and in deed the counsels of our Leader as set forth in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 6), wherein every member is charged "to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind." Mrs. Eddy never lost sight of her life mission, never failed to appreciate the importance of her work; yet she never failed to sympathize with the struggles of suffering and sinning humanity in its passage from mortal surroundings and besetments into the haven of rest and safety, in the harbor of spiritual understanding.

The Master said, "By their fruits ye shall know them," and Mrs. Eddy proved to all mankind the efficacy of her words and works. She neither asked nor accepted personal homage, but she did expect and she did receive the gratitude of loyal hearts and consecrated lives; and to such as these the blessings of untiring and uncomplaining service must bring everlasting joy and reward. She well knew what Christian Science would mean to every one who stood fast for Principle; she that unending joy and comfort would come to those who were loyal and steadfast in their devotion to the cause of Truth. For this reason, if for no other, her name can never be separated from Christian Science, nor can it be divorced from the fact that she was the author of Science and Health. Nor was she in human affairs an ordinary woman. Had her religion possessed no special claims upon the attention of the world, even then would her followers undoubtedly have ex tolled her memory and memorialized her by some fitting and substantial mark. But here we have a woman whose very life was linked with the birth and establishment of a cause whose teachings and practical results are being seen and felt all over the world; a woman whose foresight and steadfast effort enabled her to establish four periodicals which are being circulated in every part of the globe. As the founder of a new standard in modern journalism, Mrs. Eddy is entitled to gratitude unlimited, for today The Christian Science Monitor is a successful example of what can be accomplished in meeting the daily need for clean news and for an impartial discussion of timely topics of general interest. How well it is voicing to the world what her life has meant to us as individuals and what it is to mean to all humanity!

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