Editorial February 10, 1917 Issue

"Suffer it to be so now"

Archibald McLellan

In March, 1898, just previous to the declaration of war by Spain upon the United States, Mrs. Eddy wrote as follows: "Whatever weighs in the eternal scale of equity and mercy tips the beam on the right side, where the immortal words and deeds of men alone can settle all questions amicably and satisfactorily. But if our nation's rights or honor were seized, every citizen would be a soldier and woman would be armed with power girt for the hour" (Miscellany, p. 277).

Ten years later she published in The Christian Science Journal this intimate glimpse of her daily practice: "For many years I have prayed daily that there be no more war, no more barbarous slaughtering of our fellow beings; prayed that all the peoples on earth and the islands of the sea have one God, one Mind; love God supremely, and love their neighbor as themselves. National disagreements can be, and should be, arbitrated wisely, fairly; and fully settled. It is unquestionable, however, that at this hour the armament of navies is necessary, for the purpose of preventing war and preserving peace among nations" (Miscellany, p. 286).

In the mean time there had been war between Spain and the United States, during which period Mrs. Eddy, like other patriotic citizens, displayed her country's flag at full mast on her spacious grounds in Concord, N. H.; and when the New Hampshire troops returned from service she fed them and comforted them. Seemingly it had been impossible in this instance to "settle all questions amicably and satisfactorily," and Mrs. Eddy's attitude during the war, and after it closed, fully indicated her approval of the course of the United States Government in its resort to arms as the only humanly possible means whereby to maintain national rights and in the name of righteousness and humanity give freedom and peace to the weak and oppressed.

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