Editorial October 20, 1917 Issue

True Patriotism

William D. McCrackan

The word patriotism contains within itself a root word meaning father. While therefore patriotism is generally accepted as meaning love of one's country, a search for the origin of the word leads us to see that a true definition includes also love of one's real father, or love of the one Father-Mother God. True patriotism cannot exist without an underlying consciousness of God's presence and power as infinite Principle. The foundation of every nation which hopes to prosper in righteousness must be laid on the "Rock of Ages" and not upon the shifting sands of selfish ambition. In a world aroused as never before to mental activity it behooves every patriot to make certain that he has found the true basis for his love of country. The intentional manipulation of the human mind in order to cover national crimes goes on apace. Prearranged plans for deluding humanity en masse are constantly being detected, exposing underground activities which are unsuspected by those who do not look below the surface. But to derive one's love of country from one's love of God, good, safeguards patriotism. The more the citizen knows about the true nature of God and of His man, the better patriot he is, the readier to be a true soldier, the quicker to detect treason, which is the intentional perversion and misuse of information in thought and deed, and the surer he is of protection against the attacks upon his health and happiness, his abilities, and his good name.

An appalling instance of perverted patriotism has been forced upon public observation by the world war. To ignore this particular case would be to lose one of the important lessons which the great war is capable of teaching. Under the guise of patriotism a whole nation from childhood to old age has been trained through mental suggestion to think as one man, and thus at the word of command to act as one. While outwardly manifesting the virtues of unity and obedience, this people has been secretly and systematically mesmerized to do the will of an evil manipulation. Nothing more efficient in the way of psychological debauchery has ever appeared in history. Yet Christian Science presents salvation through repentance to the individuals who may have temporarily succumbed to pseudo-patriotism as truly as it does to those who are in subjection to sin and sickness, and threatened by death.

Psychology as taught and practiced by the schools is the so-called science which concerns itself with personal sense. Rightly understood, psychology can be redeemed and made to concern itself with the study of Soul, that is, of God; but as long as the concept of patriotism is subjected to the interpretation of a false psychology it must share the experiences of all false beliefs. Mrs. Eddy laid bare the false psychology and pointed to the true when on page 3 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she declared: "Because God is supreme and omnipotent, materia medica, hygiene, and animal magnetism are impotent; and their only supposed efficacy is in apparently deluding reason, denying revelation, and dethroning Deity. The tendency of mental healing is to uplift mankind; but this method perverted, is 'Satan let loose.' Hence the deep demand for the Science of psychology to meet sin, and uncover it; thus to annihilate hallucination."

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