Responsibility

Annie M. Knott

THE tendency of the human mind is to shirk responsibility,—to leave as much as possible to others,—and thus to miss the manifold blessings which come from being "workers together" with God, as Paul puts it. At the very dawn of human history, as recorded in the Bible, Cain evaded the inquiry as to Abel by asking, "Am I my brother's keeper?" But no mere evasion can satisfy the demands of Truth in any age, and we should begin to face our responsibilities by doing cheerfully the duty which is nearest us, for in this way alone will we be prepared for greater and grander tasks.

On page 176 of "Miscellaneous Writings," after commenting upon the achievements of the Pilgrims, Mrs. Eddy asks: "But what of ourselves, and our times and obligations? Are we duly aware of our own great opportunities and responsibilities?" Jesus once said, "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required," and this assuredly applies to all Christian Scientists, whatever their condition, humanly speaking. Through the divine message given to this age in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, they have access to the priceless treasures of Truth, which would be none too dearly bought were a man to sell all he had in order to secure them—according to our Master. We cannot deny that the struggles and privations of the Pilgrim fathers brought out a stalwart type of men, very different from those reared in the lap of luxury ; nor did their trials cramp their intellectual powers, but instead tended to develop them. Out of the very exigencies of those days there was laid the foundation of a splendid educational system, which later spread over the land as the public school, also the more advanced halls of learning, and we should never forget that the deep piety and rigid morality of these forefathers gave stability to the learning of their time.

When the question is pressed home to Christian Scientists as to how well they are meeting their responsibilities as citizens, neighbors, friends, parents, or children, the answer vitally concerns themselves first of all, then it deeply concerns those who come within the radius of their influence. They may be tempted to say that the demands of Christian Science are tremendous, which is quite true, for they never stop short of the perfection required by Christ Jesus, and this called for unceasing watchfulness and prayer. The result of joyful acquiescence thereto, however, is a heroic type of manhood and womanhood. This type cannot be reared in indolence or sensuous pleasure, but calls for something even better than Spartan hardihood.

Our Leader has done her part in providing for the moral and spiritual needs of the young, in the Sunday school training, also in our wholesome literature, not the least important being our daily paper, The Christian Science Monitor, which is of tremendous value along educational lines. It therefore rests with parents and other guardians of the young to recognize their deep responsibilities and see to it that the children of today will be ready in later years to pass Christian Science on to posterity unsullied and undimmed, shining with a light above that of the sun, the light of Truth and Love. We may not be called upon to do sentry duty in physical warfare, but we can never evade the call of Truth which demands of us absolute obedience to divine law. If we love God with all our hearts, we will not fail to teach His law "diligently" to our children, for if we or they "forget," the promised blessings will be missed.

In bygone days Pharaoh and Herod made their chief attacks upon the children and mortal mind has not changed its methods, unless it be to make them more subtle; hence the greater need for watchfulness and prayer. If the protection of the children from sickness requires extreme cleanliness, let us have no superficial washing of the outside of cup and platter, but the absolute purity of heart which alone can enable either child or adult to "see God" and thus be immune to sin or sickness, although a thousand fall at his side. The child must be taught obedience to spiritual law, and then he can say of divine Love, "He is my refuge and my fortress."

Annie M. Knott.

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Among the Churches

September 30, 1916

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