Article May 23, 1914 Issue

Unfettered Truth

JULIA WARNER MICHAEL

Sitting in a Christian Science service one Sunday morning, the writer heard the words, "uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses," read from The Christian Science Quarterly (p. 4), with a new and enlightened understanding. Then and there was unfolded the consciousness that not only on Sundays do Christian Scientists listen to a sermon "uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses," but every time they study the Bible and their textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," every time divine Mind spiritually interprets for them a Bible text, they are listening to "divinely authorized" statements of fact. What a blessing it is to mankind to find the truth of being freed from the fetters of mortal interpretation!

In proportion as we listen daily and hourly to such sermons and seek honestly and earnestly to reflect their teaching, we can pass through daily experiences along the path of life, feeling the joy and dominion of God's offspring, instead of yielding to the belief so widely held, in some form or other, that this situation or person or climatic condition or family circumstance fetters our efforts toward better things. Surely the phrase above referred to is a declaration of independence to all the inhabitants of the earth. Its contemplation and mental digestion will eliminate from many lips the all too frequent utterance, "I could be a better man [or woman], a better Christian Scientist, if conditions were different, if it were not for my family, if my bringing up had been different," with all the other "ifs," which in fact are but rusty fetters forged by a false sense of intelligence and ready to break and release their victims at the first blow of Truth.

Since power belongs unto God alone, and God is infinite good, His reflection, man, must express unvarying harmony, which never stirs before the storm, never breaks under the blow, never fails in times of temptation, but before whose serene majesty all error cowers and disappears. Mrs. Eddy tells us that man's "birthright is dominion, not subjection. He is lord of the belief in earth and heaven,—himself subordinate alone to his Maker" (Science and Health, p. 518). With this consciousness ever alert, matter and mortal mind can no more fetter man's progress than can a leaf imprison the wind; evil beliefs can no more contaminate him than can dust soil the stars.

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