Article May 20, 1916 Issue

The world has heard much about "the devil," but it remained...

W. G. Watkins—Oshkosh, Wis.

The Northwestern,

The world has heard much about "the devil," but it remained for Mrs. Eddy to explain that the devil is purely mental, and that it had its origin in the "fleshly mind," alias the belief of life in matter, which is ever at "enmity against God." Mental pictures of the devil, or evil, designed to terrorize people into heaven, have never resulted in bringing any permanent surcease from the world's bitterness and woe. What humanity really needs, and the only thing that will ever enable one to acquaint himself with God "and be at peace," is a right apprehension of Him whom St. John defined as Love.

It is well said on page 357 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, that "if mankindwould relinquish the belief that God makes sickness, sin, and death, or makes man capable of suffering on account of this malevolent triad, the foundations of error would be sapped and error's destruction ensured." The Master, who knew better than any one else the remedy for devil or evil, said that a grain of faith would remove mountains; in other words, a little genuine dependence upon God would do wonders for humanity. Evidently the world has heard enough about its troubles. Its one great need is to know more about the remedy, and this can be found nowhere except in the realm of right thinking, in the realization of the kingdom of heaven, which is ever within consciousness.

There is nothing in the realm of justice that warrants unkind reference to Christian Science, and there is no explanation for it, except that it is history repeating itself. I think we can all agree that the world will be much improved when the ministry of the gospel comes to mean more demonstration and less faultfinding. This kind of ministry would exclude aught else than the healing of the sick and the reforming of the sinner, in conformity with the Master's teaching and practice. It must be said of Christian Science, and greatly to its credit, that it is teaching its adherents to acquire the much needed art of being about their Father's business and incidentally attending to their own.

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