Editorial October 7, 1916 Issue

Compassion

William D. McCrackan

COMPASSION is the constant companion of the true healer. Without it, statements of truth may seem harsh and repellent to the unprepared human thought and assume the character of the letter that killeth; but taken in conjunction with compassion, the absolute becomes clothed in the garment of beauty and is anointed with the oil of gladness. Be it said at once, however, that compassion is not to be confounded with mere pity, which may operate as sympathetic mesmerism. Compassion is instinct with Science, for it is intelligent and understands truth; but uninstructed human sympathy assumes evil to be real, and thus aggravates it.

In referring to her great discovery Mrs. Eddy writes on page 25 of "Retrospection and Introspection," "I named it Christian, because it is compassionate, helpful, and spiritual." Obviously the practising Christian Scientist must manifest these Christian qualities in order to earn the right to use the name of his choice. The Scriptures contain many indications of the indispensable nature of compassion. David sang of God as "full of compassion;" Peter exhorted the brethren to have "compassion one of another." As Jesus went about "healing every sickness and every disease among the people," we read that he "was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." He was "moved with compassion" when the leper appealed to him for help, and we read that the leper was cleansed. Even Jesus' rebuke, though masterful to human apprehension, was compassionate because based on Science.

Now the working Christian Scientist stands as much in need of compassion as his patient. If he is advancing, he will find that the very illumination which enters his consciousness by reason of his growing receptivity also uncovers unsuspected depths of depravity in mortal mind. Youth grows into maturity, and unless protected in the process may be shocked at the disclosures involved. The working Christian Scientist is liable to so-called "growing pains." The shock to those who are spiritually minded and yet are sensitive to evil is difficult to describe. That which would be barely noticed by the materially minded at first looms large in flaming conspicuousness before the startled searcher for good. Surely no individual human being so greatly needs healing compassion as the advancing Christian Scientist who for the first time gazes into the high potency nothingness of animal magnetism, mesmerism, self-styled esoteric magic, or into any one of the etceteras of intentional evil.

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