Editorial January 26, 1918 Issue

The Strength of Kindliness

William P. McKenzie

One who was a visitor to this continent from another shore, who came and went several times, on one of his visits confessed that the one thing impressive about the free people of the United States was their great kindliness. It is, of course, not strange that in their own land a free people should develop comradeship among themselves, and so be ready with kindness for the stranger, as if accepting him also for a comrade. Kindness is possible always where there is confidence, and confidence is the sure result of gaining a sense of Principle. Moses at the fortieth year of his leadership said, "Ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's."

Has not any man capacity for friendship of whom it can be said: "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. ... He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord"? Where better than in free countries may light arise; and where more wonderfully has it arisen, than in the land where Christian Science was discovered and first proclaimed? If the ancient promise to Jacob was that he "shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid;" and if the word of the Master was, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid," how much more should foglike fear be dispelled where the monotheism of Israel and the saving power of Christianity are united in Christian Science, unfolding Principle and its demonstration. Let fear, the mother of hate, be entirely abolished, and the admonition, "Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous," hardly needs to be spoken, because such action will be spontaneous.

A people kind and friendly is also very tolerant. The mind conscious of rectitude is unsuspicious, and to the scheming wicked all this seems weakness; but evildoers should not deceive themselves too easily or too long with such a belief, for freedom implies courage and love means strength. Should there be a refugee coming hither from a land of which it could be said, "Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves," and should he, because of the new surroundings of geniality and peace, think to raven as a cowardly wolf among sheep, soon he will find that the hand giving the firm clasp in friendship has likewise strength against jaws and claws.

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