Editorial April 1, 1916 Issue

Stumbling-blocks

Archibald McLellan

Those who have been a long time in the way of Christian Science and are familiar with its teachings, count this privilege among their blessings ; but perhaps they do not always accept so readily its attendant obligation, namely, that as followers of the great Exemplar they are themselves to be wayshowers to the younger brethren, whose faltering steps must be sustained and guided until they too walk firmly the heavenly road. In fact, in these days of rapid advance of the cause, one has only to be ordinarily observant to discover many who are weighing the question and who are looking to the avowed exponents of Christian Science for proof of its power to heal and to save. Possibly some are friends or acquaintances, others may be wholly unknown to us, while to them all we carry the hall-mark that identifies us, and they are judging us accordingly.

Is our responsibility any the less because unconsciously to ourselves we have been singled out by some of these people as the test by which, so far as they are concerned, Christian Science shall stand or fall? Is it not really greater, lest all unwittingly we become stumbling-blocks, and thus an offense that may bar some one from the Father's house? Beyond a doubt the world is watching Christian Scientists today as never before to see how they measure up, and Mrs. Eddy must have realized this when she penned the inspiring call which appears on page 110 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "Beloved children, the world has need of you, — and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives. You need also to watch, and pray that you preserve these virtues unstained, and lose them not through contact with the world. What grander ambition is there than to maintain in yourselves what Jesus loved, and to know that your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind!"

There is indeed need to watch and pray if we are to manifest innocence, unselfishness, loving-kindness, and purity ; yet all these are possible, for the Master's command is, "Be ye therefore perfect." The natural tendency of mortal mind is away from those qualities which Jesus exemplified, and the temptation to indulge seemingly harmless and rightful desires must be steadily resisted if this indulgence involves the loss of peace of mind either for ourselves or for those who are looking to us for guidance.

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