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Treason
The betrayal of friendship is generally accounted a particularly odious offense. Even those who have made little progress along spiritual lines can be depended on to support their friends, at least as far as they are conscious of the meaning of the term loyalty. Why then is it that lasting friendships are comparatively rare and people after a time draw apart who might be expected to remain united? The divergence of ideals seems to account for much of this tendency. On page 80 of "Retrospection and Introspection" Mrs. Eddy writes, "There are no greater miracles known to earth than perfection and an unbroken friendship." Nothing drives human beings farther apart than that which they consider a betrayal of their ideals, and they give such conduct ugly name of treason.
The Christian Scientist is at times faced by the question of uncovering error lest silence be taken as an indorsement of evil. What are the absolute facts in the case? Is evil real unreal? What is mortal man that his attitude toward evil should determine what is intrinsically real or unreal? Can any one by giving thought make one atom of evil a reality? It is not possible for any human being to indorse evil, to give value to unreality by adding his name as he would indorse a check, for such a paper is a counterfeit, forged and issued by that false mind which Jesus has frankly described as "a liar."
It should therefore comfort the Christian Scientist to recognize that no matter how rampant treason may seem in its temporary successes and how successful in deluding mankind with its transient triumphs, it can never be made real by any possible juxtaposition with good, and can never be really indorsed or countenanced, even though no opportunity may present itself of uncovering it for what it is. This conviction should lighten the load of many a conscientious teacher, practitioner, or reader who has somehow been made to feel that he is responsible for another's mistakes because he is not in position to correct them.
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October 6, 1917 issue
View Issue-
Unity
STOKES ANTHONY BENNETT
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Educational Influence of the Monitor
CARLOTTA S. SIGNOR
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The Explanatory Note
CECIL E. BENJAMIN
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"Tell no man"
GERTRUDE SUTTON
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The Real Man Here
LOU-VEE B. SIEGFRIED
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Giving
WILLIAM HALE COOMBER
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The canard against Christian Science, which one of your...
Judge Clifford P. Smith in
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From the tone of a recent editorial it would appear that...
Warren O. Evans in
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In reporting a recent meeting of the Young Men's Literary Club...
Clyde Johnson in
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In the Messenger is printed a sermon called "The Signs of Christ's Coming,"...
Judge Samuel W. Greene in
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The report of the Boy Scouts' first day in camp stated...
S. T. Downs in
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In a recent number of "Health Talks" I included a letter...
John D. Huber, M.D., in
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Permit me to say through your columns, in reply to a...
William D. Kilpatrick in
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Notwithstanding the statement of the critic quoted in...
Samuel Greenwood in
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Distribution of Literature
The Christian Science Board of Directors
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Government not Politics
William P. McKenzie
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Warfare, True and False
Annie M. Knott
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Treason
William D. McCrackan
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Admission to Membership in The Mother Church
John V. Dittemore
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The Lectures
with contributions from George E. Simmons, George L. Hodgson, J. W. Rice,
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When my attention was first drawn to the teachings of...
Zella Bissell Chatfield
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Fifteen years ago I went to a Christian Science practitioner...
Edmund A. Francis
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For fourteen years I have proved the healing power of...
Amelia Bond Gray
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It is with joy that I testify to the healing power of Truth
Josephine A. Sparks
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In the fall of 1914 I met with an accident, the wheel of...
Margaret Kelley
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About six years ago I underwent a surgical operation on...
Ernestina Prada
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Christian Science is the greatest thing in my life, and is...
Catherine Kendall with contributions from Thomas Kendall
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For more than ten years I have enjoyed the privilege of...
Susan Farquharson Campbell
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I am very happy to give my testimony as to the benefits...
Mae V. Koerner
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Thoughts for Each Hour
MYRTLE STRODE JACKSON
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From Our Exchanges
with contributions from George H. Parkinson, J. Frank Thompson