Article April 28, 1917 Issue

Hospitality

KATE HOLT

Belief that matter is substance is very noticeable in the average expression of hospitality, but it is presented in a truer light by Peter, who counseled, "Use hospitality one to another without grudging." Another apostle, in advising as to the appointment of an elder or bishop, recommended that such be "a lover of hospitality." By the same writer the phrase "given to hospitality" is one of a series, among which are such favorites as "rejoicing in hope," "patient in tribulation," and "continuing instant in prayer."

The student of Christian Science finds it impossible to evade the injunction, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," which also applies to the exercise of the virtue of hospitality, for as the individual consciousness becomes spiritualized the outward manifestation is changed. Ostentation, extravagance, pretense, give way to the simple sharing of what we have as occasion presents itself. As the writer was pondering the true meaning of hospitality one day, error began to whisper that here is a virtue inseparable from the possession of individual wealth, hence a virtue to be exercise by the few and not by all, which would imply that God is a respecter of persons.

One cannot declare daily that God is omnipresent Truth, without finding a ready rebuke for insidious error when it talks in this fashion; hence it was quickly seen that God is no respecter of persons in regard to any good thing, and that with the perception of any virtue is given the means and the opportunity to exercise it. God-given thoughts always bear within themselves seed after their kind, and bring forth fruit after their kind. As this truth dawns in consciousness, it becomes clear that good is not diminished by being shared.

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