Editorial December 22, 1917 Issue

Children

Annie M. Knott

In the forty-fifth psalm we have a wonderful presentation of the spiritual idea, which marks a strong contrast between mortal concepts and that which is conceived of Spirit. The psalmist tells us that he is "inditing a good matter," and he surely is. He says of the ideal man: "Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever." He then goes on to point out the spiritual weapons used by this divine idea, and tells of the prosperity which abides continually with him because of "truth and meekness and righteousness," and of the gladness which is his because he loves righteousness and hates wickedness.

Christian Scientists who are parents know the vital importance of instructing their children in the Scriptures at home, in addition to all that is done for them in the Sunday school. In the Old Testament we find constant admonitions to parents to teach their children the ever presence and all-power of God, and above all else the necessity for obedience to His law. Here it is well to remember that even a thorough acquaintance with the law of God without obedience thereto would be of no avail, nay, it might even beget self-righteousness and vanity, mental conditions against which both adults and children need to guard themselves. It matters not whether we are dealing with sin or sickness, the question is not how much we know about the truth which destroys it but how much of this truth we are demonstrating, and we cannot too often remind the children of this.

We sometimes hear the argument that it is undesirable to tell children about evil, and it may be said that this need never be done if obedience to right were insisted upon by parents and teachers at every step of the way; nevertheless, if unwillingness to obey the divine law presents itself either in the home or in the Sunday school it must be fearlessly met and destroyed by the understanding of Truth. On page 235 of Miscellany Mrs. Eddy deals with this subject in a short article called "Inconsistency," and she illustrates the necessity for uncovering error by a reference to mathematics and presents this question from the standpoint of a mother. "Can I teach my child the correct numeration of numbers and never name a cipher?" This our wise Leader answers by saying, "Knowing that she cannot do this in mathematics, she should know that it cannot be done in metaphysics, and so she should definitely name the error, uncover it, and teach truth scientifically."

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