Editorial November 24, 1917 Issue

Economy and Brotherly Love

Annie M. Knott

At the present time we see many reasons for getting a larger grasp of the spiritual idea which is humanly represented in economy, and perhaps nothing can better help us to gain a truer sense of its meaning than Mrs. Eddy's words which are found in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. XXIV, Sect. 5), namely: "God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist." There certainly can be no higher reason for economy than the brotherly love which would deny oneself in order to share the good things which we possess with some one who may seem to be less privileged, so far as the present hour is concerned.

Many years ago a good lesson was learned by the writer in knowing a lady of considerable means who would not permit the slightest waste in her household, but who found great happiness in giving out to the needy, as wisely as she knew how to do so, an equal amount to that which was spent for the food of her own family. In gaining a true sense of economy, or of anything else for that matter, we need to get rid of the false beliefs which would hinder our recognition and demonstration of the truth involved in the case. Perhaps nothing has been a greater foe to the exercise of economy than the sense of pride,—a desire to appear well before the world; in brief, to make what mortal mind would call a good appearance, even where this has in many cases actually trespassed upon the demands of honesty. Now Christian Science insists that if we would be happy and healthful we must be honest with ourselves to begin with, and if we are, this kind of charity may begin at home, but it certainly will not end there, it will go forth in obedience to Principle into all our human relationships. It goes without saying that economy is not limited to money or food or clothing; indeed economy of time may very properly precede all our efforts in this direction. The wise man says, "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster."

When we are called upon at this period to deny ourselves many things in the way of food, we may well ponder deeply Daniel's experience in the royal court at Babylon. To begin with, the three Hebrew youths who are mentioned in the first chapter of Daniel must have had remarkable spiritual training in their homes when they were ready to choose the very simplest food in preference to the luxuries of the king's table, including wine. They had to face the belief, which was prevalent then as now, that rich food and stimulants would build them up physically, but they understood otherwise, and so asked that they might be given only "pulse to eat, and water to drink." Their request was complied with, and we read that "at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."

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