Editorial November 13, 1915 Issue

Healing of Dishonesty

John B. Willis

Speaking of the more immediate effects of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy has said that "both truth and error have come nearer than ever before to the apprehension of mortals" (Science and Health, p. 368), and Christian Scientists will all witness that one of the most significant features of their experience is the fact that their escape from evil has been preceded by the gain of a clearer sense of what evil is. Evil is not to be overcome by ignoring it, but rather by clearly perceiving the nature of its claim and performance, in the light of Truth. The correct analysis of erroneous sense and its manifestations in impulse and habit is therefore decidedly important.

All this is seen to be very true with respect to the sin of dishonesty, a sin which is summed up for general thought as the spirit of trickery, the disposition to take unfair advantage. As such it may seem contemptible, in the abstract, to those who pride themselves upon always having done business "on the square." Nevertheless when awakened they might discover that they have been consenting to not a few things which upon examination are seen to bear the hallmarks of injustice.

Dishonesty expresses itself most seductively in the willingness if not the purposeful desire to gain without giving. It manifests a false sense both of what good is and of the way to secure it. It is the controlling manager of all enterprises which are intent upon getting something for nothing, and the number and variety of such undertakings will surely impress even the most superficial thinker. The moment one accepts this interpretation of the word, and begins to test out his plans and purposes thereby, that moment he realizes as never before the world-wide extent of what might be named The Realm of Rogues.

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