Peace and Peacemakers

FLORENCE G. MERROW

To the majority of people, the first thought of a peacemaker calls to mind a person of serene temperament, one who seeks to replace discord with harmony, and to bring about amicable relations between individuals or nations. It may be a self-sacrificing mother who, to "keep peace" in the family, shields her froward child; it may be a friend who never makes objections, or advances any differences of opinion; or a worker in public life who is not aggressive, never takes the initiative, never raises questions, but tactfully avoids all controversy by accepting the opinions and judgment of others, though he may not fully agree with them, and may even think he sees a way by which present methods might be improved. But upon further reflection, we find that smoothing things over in this manner is but the temporary stilling of the storm; it is the mocking cry of mortal mind, "Peace, peace; when there is no peace," and may bring stagnation to progress, prove fatal to the demonstration of divine Principle.

Peace is defined as a state of quiet or tranquillity; calm; repose; absence or cessation of war; general order; a state of reconciliation; concord. From this it follows that the peacemaker is one who makes peace by eradicating fear, selfishness, and sin, all of which are destructive to harmony. This cannot be accomplished by the mere use of tact, diplomacy, or approbation in one's association with the world, by yielding to the stronger will or submitting to wrong conditions, for these methods do not reach the cause of the discord; hence they are but palliative. More than this, they make the "last state" of the offender "worse than the first." Peace can never be established by overlooking, but by overcoming error; and this can be done only by beginning at the root, or first cause of the trouble.

Back of discordant conditions individual forces are often found to be operating through selfishness. The true reformer is the one who sees the error and seeks to correct it at the demand of justice, observing the golden rule, uncovering error in the spirit of love, and for the sole purpose of removing it, of righting wrong. He is thus equipped with the most powerful weapons for the warfare against evil forces,—weapons which are "not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."

It was once said of one who endeavored to have everything that he did as nearly right as possible, and required the same of others, that he was a crank. The person to whom the remark was made, replied, "The machinery of the world is kept running by cranks." The common concept of cranks is far from that of peacemakers; but if those people who do not pass over careless mistakes, indifference to duty on the part of others, or accept imperfect work, but who require efficiency, justice, right, fair play,—if these are cranks, then we are faced with the paradox that cranks are peacemakers, for the work of both is essentially constructive.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "It requires the spirit of our blessed Master to tell a man his faults, and so risk human displeasure for the sake of doing right and benefiting our race" (p. 571). But one can never overcome the effects of his own or other people's errors by indifference to them. Is not dis-ease in error, therefore, preferable to ease, since discomfort from sin is better adapted to deliver one from its effects than content therein? It is obvious, moreover, that in any case of questionable methods, the better way is to discuss the matters in question, thus furnishing opportunity whereby the issues may be justly settled.

So long as a lie can exploit itself for truth, it remains hidden in ambush; but like the serpent which it is, when its falsity is seen,—the truth about the error is made known,—it springs forth from its hiding-place, and makes a last desperate fight for power by turning the lie on the one who dealt its death-blow, who, it would say, is the cause of all the tumult. Then ensues a battle for truth; but the champion of truth is protected by Truth, which also gives him courage and serenity in the face of attack, and if he holds his ground until the sky has cleared he will perceive his victory. He needs wisdom to know when to speak and how to speak, and must himself adhere strictly to the fundamental truth for which he stands, since "the ideal leader is the obedient follower."

In the breaking up of material beliefs, the "cleansing upheaval" referred to by our Leader in Science and Health (p. 540) as the divine law "stirring up the belief in evil to its utmost, when bringing it to the surface and reducing it to its common denominator, nothingness," seems to be not peace, but a sword; and from the material point of view it would at times appear that we as individuals can do little toward quelling the tumult. To the Christian Scientist, however, who knows that the conflict is not with individuals, but between truth and error, such a chaotic state of affairs is but the interval between the uncovering of errors that have been allowed to rule, and the right adjustment of conditions. He knows that because Truth is infinite, supreme, error is powerless. It can destroy no part of Truth, Life, or Love; it can do nothing but spend itself. He knows also the value and power of right thinking; that it alone is intelligent; that no idea of Truth can ever be lost, but every idea which goes forth makes for peace in the ratio of its truthfulness. Thus with the aid of this most powerful equipment, right thought, all may aid in the ultimate demonstration of peace, which has its beginning in the individual consciousness.

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