Editorial January 5, 1918 Issue

Jerusalem

Annie M. Knott

Recent events lead one to think much upon Jerusalem past and present, and to recall the psalmist's words: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." Christian Scientists have learned to think with reverence upon that which is sacred to others, especially if it has an uplifting influence. Jerusalem has, however, peculiar claims upon all professed Christians,—indeed it may be said to be the cradle of their faith,—and did not the master Christian love that city so deeply that he wept over it, foreseeing its sorrows and its long night of travail, and said: "If thou hadst known ... the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes"?

On page 13 of Miscellany Mrs. Eddy, in referring to a book which had been sent her, says that according to its statements "the church of Jerusalem seems to prefigure The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston." She goes on to say that the members of The Mother Church had just pledged themselves to give a large amount of money wherewith to extend the edifice which outwardly represented their faith, and that they were to build "an ample temple dedicate to God, to Him 'who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction.'" We cannot doubt that these words of the psalmist, quoted by our Leader, must have been known by many who worshiped in Solomon's temple; and in the hundred and eighteenth psalm we have an account of one who was drawing nigh unto the gates of death, when he called upon God and was delivered. It would also seem that he went up to the temple to tell, in the presence of all the people, what God had done for him, and it is evident that his reference to "the stone which the builders refused" points to the healing power of Truth.

A student of Christian Science would naturally say that it is passing strange that the healing which came from the recognition of God's power and presence should ever have been lost sight of by humanity, which has needed it so sorely. Is it not, however, even more strange that the wonderful work done by Christ Jesus, when all forms of disease were healed, the lepers cleansed, the blind given their sight, and even the dead raised, should ever have been lost sight of? In Matthew's gospel we read that shortly before the crucifixion Jesus went into the temple and healed those who came to him for aid, although his work was challenged by the chief priests and elders who demanded his authority for it. They were blind to the things which belonged to their peace,—to the peace of all the world either in that day or this,—but we may well wonder why those who call themselves the Master's followers could ever have lost sight of the truth which he declared to be the foundation of his ministry.

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