Editorial September 30, 1916 Issue

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.

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