Editorial June 9, 1917 Issue

Children and Purity

Annie M. Knott

That the right education of children is of supreme importance to humanity there can be no question; and if any were to doubt this they need but turn to the Scriptures, especially the teachings of Christ Jesus, who brought before his disciples the true concept of the child as God's idea. On page 582 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy defines children as "the spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth, and Love." In distinction to the spiritual idea she uncovers the material sense of childhood, namely, "sensual and mortal beliefs; counterfeits of creation." As this false concept is destroyed by Truth the divine idea appears.

At the present time civilization is making great demands upon parents for physical cleanliness in their homes, and this demand is likewise carried into the schools. Besides this, it is held to be necessary to instruct children in problems relating to sex in order that moral defilement may be guarded against; all of which is surely commendable if the right methods are employed. To the Christian Scientist, however, the spiritual must always come first, and must give character to everything which is attempted in the way of human betterment. The Master said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things [including health and purity] shall be added unto you." The Christian Science parent or teacher knows that the mortal is conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity, and being on the wrong foundation, is therfore subject to sickness, sin, and death. The faithful student of Christian Science soon discovers in his practical work that an error in the premise must result in failure all along the way; and until the child is released from the tendencies of a mortal and material origin, and taught to realize and demonstrate the absolute purity of the divine nature, results will be at best uncertain.

We cannot for a moment afford to lose sight of the fact that moral and spiritual purity must be inculcated in the child's consciousness form the start, and it should also be the atmosphere of the home in which the child is brought up. Children are properly very keen in their discernment; and if honesty, truthfulness, and spirituality are lacking in the adult thought of the home, the children will thus be deprived of that which is of far more importance than all the treasures of earth. Just how much can be accomplished by the right training of a child we learn from the story of Joseph. Although he was taken to Egypt as a slave, and placed where the most subtle allurements of sensualism assailed him, yet he stood firm in his God-given purity, willing to surrender even the mortal sense of life rather than to lose his spiritul birthright. The result was that step by step he was led, though at first through terrible trials, up to the highest position in Egypt, until he was prime minister of the greatest nation of antiquity. It is undeniable that his wonderful clearness of vision, his keen mental grasp of things, even on the human plane, were all due to the spirituality which had been bestowed upon him as a priceless gift with the love of his father from his earliest hours.

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