Article May 13, 1916 Issue

Mind and Myself

HENRY R. CORBETT, PH.M.

Individuals differ widely as to the meaning of the words "mind" and "myself," yet all agree in attaching to both these words very great importance. The chief concerns of human experience are vitally related to right thinking about them, and yet few words have been more generally misunderstood. It is indeed strange that the word "mind" has been almost universally applied to an inconsistent kind of thinking which is supposed to have its basis in brains and to recognize matter as substance, which often prefers evil to good and always ends in death. With matter as its basis and with death as its destiny, what could be more confusing than to apply the term "mind" to such mindless and self-destructive elements?

Christian Science has done much to clear away this confusion. It denies that the word "mind" can rightly be used for unintelligence. Its text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, teaches that "what we term mortal mind or carnal mind, dependent on matter for manifestation, is not Mind. God is Mind" (p. 311). This Science makes it clear that Mind is infinite, perfect intelligence; that it knows no substance except itself; that it recognizes no power but its own; that it is not dependent upon brains; and that from the perfect standard of good it never departs for an instant, not even as a supposed means to some good end. This divine Science has therefore given to the study of Mind a fixed standard, and has thus enabled mankind to distinguish real intelligence from its counterfeit.

It should be clearly understood that in speaking of this false mind we do not mean any person or any class of people, but an irrational imitation of thought which usurps in consciousness the place of real intelligence. It takes an inverted view of substance and calls it matter. It hoards its counterfeit of real, enduring riches and calls it wealth. It stands in constant fear of sickness and death, and has devised systems of material medicine, not knowing how to prove that God's free gift to all is abounding, indestructible life. Although divine Love is the only power, omnipotent, and therefore effective everywhere, mortal mind, imagining the absence of God, creates the fear of a thousand woes, and then assumes to supply the only refuge from these, its own brood of ills. For instance, in the guise of a health campaign it scatters broadcast the infectious descriptions of disease and then claims the sole right to protect the public health, and would even treat as criminals those who, seeing clearly the real situation, practise the ministry of the divine Mind to erase the nightmare of disease from the experience of its victims.

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