Article December 23, 1916 Issue

Make-believe

EMILY A. ASHCROFT

We all know how fond most small boys are of playing at soldiers. We have frequently seen a band of little fellows being marshaled along by a boy, perhaps a little bigger than themselves, who is pretending to be a great general and assuming that officer's name and authority. The small boys are quite willing, for the time being, to be led by him and to obey his orders. They become so earnest in their game that it all seems very real to them.

A bystander watching such a scene finds plenty to amuse him, mainly in the total unlikeness of the acting to the real thing. The more familiar the onlooker is with the reality, the more absurd this futile attempt at imitation appears. He does not, however, grow indignant that an insignificant little person should assume the name, title, and powers of a general. Why? Because he knows it is all in fun, all make-believe. This little bit of acting does not interfere with the work of the real general. That goes on exactly the same as before, and in fact the original is totally ignorant of the existence of his imitator.

On page 212 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "The realities of being . . . and the origin of all things are unseen to mortal sense; whereas the unreal and imitative movements of mortal belief, which would reverse the immortal modus and action, are styled the real." Mortal mind is nothing but a would-be imitator of the divine Mind. As we watch the farce of mortal existence, if all would but see that mortal mind is no more the real governor of man than this self-constituted boy com mander is the real ruler of armies, all could afford to be amused. A Christian Scientist has the means of gaining this point of view instead of being the willing follower of a fictitious pretender. God is totally unconscious of this self-appointed authority, mortal mind, because it does not exist in the all-knowing consciousness of God and is no part of His universe; hence error cannot countermand God's orders, alter His plans, annul His laws, or upset the harmony of His universe. The more familiar we are with God's universe, the more absurd and unreal will mortal sense testimony become.

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