Editorial November 30, 1918 Issue

Access to Right Ideas

William P. McKenzie

When men seek wealth in money or lands, when they seek honor from the fair words of their neighbors, or love from those whom they favor, they find that limitations also arise; the thief, the invader, the traducer, and the ingrate oppose the harmony they desire. But when a man seeks Truth, there are no limitations. Jesus flung open the door of opportunity to every one when he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." Mrs. Eddy shows exactly how this must be so when she defines man in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 475): "Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas; ... that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker."

Herein it is clearly inferred that should there be a false sense of man, it will claim life, intelligence, and creative power apart from God, and since man includes all right ideas, the false sense of man will include wrong theories and beliefs. It becomes, therefore, axiomatically clear that an evil mind with wicked theories and malign plans has no right to claim dominion, even though backed by hereditaments and investiture. What has been spoken of as "the divine right of kings" and interpreted as arbitrary and selfish power, properly means that "a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment," as Isaiah made clear. Mrs. Eddy's settlement of the question offers the finality of wisdom (Science and Health, p. 239): "The wicked man is not the ruler of his upright neighbor. Let it be understood that success in error is defeat in Truth. The watchword of Christian Science is Scriptural: 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.' "

A poet spoke truly of human experience when he said, "Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers." Now that is because men first want to know the good and evil comprised in human belief, and only later because of suffering turn from these transient beliefs to wisdom, whose invitation has ever awaited them, saying: "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

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