Article December 7, 1918 Issue

Enlisted for Active Service

LILLIAN B. BEEDE

On page 450 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" our beloved Leader says, "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death." An expression of our allegiance to our cause, when we enlist for active service, is found in the following quotation from the tenets of The Mother Church (Science and Health, p. 497): "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."

In these days when the words "enlistment" and "service" have been telling every loyal heart in the length and breadth of our dear country the need of courage and unselfish devotion to the cause of human freedom, the thoughtful Christian Scientist finds in them an even greater significance. Nearly half a century ago, at a time when the American nation had entered into a peaceful period after its great struggle for the abolishing of slavery, a God-inspired voice was raised demanding for all humanity a freedom, the full import of which was at that time beyond the comprehension of the world. This leader of a new army, whose battle ground was to be the plane of human thought, has sounded the clarion call to thinkers with these words (Science and Health, p. 227): "Christian Science raises the standard of liberty and cries: 'Follow me! Escape from the bondage of sickness, sin, and death!' Jesus marked out the way. Citizens of the world, accept the 'glorious liberty of the children of God,' and be free! This is your divine right."

The world is ever reluctant to accept a newly discovered idea. It justly demands that the recognition of any such must depend upon demonstrable and not merely theoretical truth. Enlistments under the standard of Christian Science, as the years of patient endeavor proved its truth, steadily increased in number, until to-day the whole human race is being benefited by those who "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Mortal mind craves peace, the false peace, in which it may enjoy undisturbed its sensual pleasures. When stirred to warfare it is merely for the purpose of preserving for itself the right to a peaceful indulgence in sin, or of greedily securing more material to feed its hungry desires. It regards with disfavor any influence which would awaken it from its hypnotic complacency in self-righteousness; for the persistent outgoing of truth is a great disturber to error. Those who have "enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death," should be keenly alert to their responsibilities in these days of world chemicalization. The spiritualization of thought everywhere is the reserve force that must be and will be the decisive factor in the defeat of error.

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