Article March 4, 1916 Issue

Overcoming the World

LOUIS W. SCHAAFF

Christian Science , rightly understood and lived, lifts thought above the testimony of the physical senses, thus enabling one to recognize the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and "on earth peace, good will toward men," through unity in faith. We need to hold to this truth continuously, and thus aid in that universal realization of good which will usher in the millennium. It is not merely incidental that America shelters within its boundaries the Bethlehem of this age, wherefrom the Science of Christ, the declaration of the truth of being, has again gone forth.

While according to the testimony of the physical senses the conflict in which various nations are at present involved seems to indicate a tremendous regress in civilization, the lessons to be learned therefrom may yet prove how absolutely truth, when spiritually discerned, reverses sense-testimony. Those who have dear ones that are taking an active part in this struggle, are likely to be called to face problems which seem very trying. With me it was a struggle whether I should take my stand for Truth regardless of what might follow, or should take sides with one or another of the warring nations and thus fail to obey the command to love my neighbor. On page 340 of Science and Health we read that "one infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.'"

This was my mental condition for some time, until one day, after an especially uplifting Wednesday evening meeting, I suddenly yet peacefully awoke in the early morning hours to realize as never before the truth of being, and to perceive what my stand had to be. It was when I had risen above the sense of personality that I realized my real nationality to be in God's kingdom and my Father-Mother God to be everywhere present, governing all. The loss of the material and personal sense of these things, bitter and even disgraceful as it had appeared to me at first, proved to be my gain, since it has enabled me to destroy every sense of enmity and hatred, to know the unreality of all this material order, and to feel the deepest compassion toward all involved. It was the dawn of a glorious day of freedom, ushering in the spirit of good will toward all men. On page 281 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mrs. Eddy writes: "Faith full-fledged, soaring to the Horeb height, brings blessings infinite, and the spirit of this orison is the fruit of rightness,—'on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

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