Editorial June 19, 1915 Issue

Health Contagious

Annie M. Knott

The belief that evil is contagious is firmly rooted in the thought of most people, whether it relates to moral or physical conditions. There are of course many theories as to so-called contagious diseases, but all are based upon the supposition that disease is an entity, expressing itself through well-defined laws both in acute and chronic ailments. It is therefore held to be positive, not merely negative.

It is hardly necessary to explain that Christian Science rejects this supposition, on the ground that disease is no part of man's being, even when humanly considered. At most it can only be regarded as a negation, and it is thus dealt with in Christian Science. The strange thing is that disease has been assigned more power by general belief than has health, for whoever heard of bringing a well person into proximity with a sick one for the benefit of the latter? On the contrary, it is almost universally believed that disease is communicable and that health is never so, from which point of view disease would be positive and health negative.

Long ago Christ Jesus said, "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Christian Scientists strive to follow the Christ-teaching so closely that the darkness of sin and disease can never encompass them. Through the teachings of their inspired Leader, Mrs. Eddy, they are daily proving for themselves that evil has no principle, that like darkness it does not radiate from a given center, and that it has neither intelligence nor power to communicate itself to any one. Even a child knows that darkness cannot be carried into a lighted room, but that light can instantaneously dispel darkness, and when the light appears it is not necessary to dispose of the darkness in any way. This may be said to explain in a simple yet conclusive way the healing work of Christ Jesus, as when he touched the lepers and healed them, proving that in the presence of spiritual law the widely held belief in contagion was inoperative, and spiritual law, like its divine source, is "from everlasting to everlasting."

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