Editorial December 28, 1918 Issue

Be Men

William P. McKenzie

The time calls for men, and will not be satisfied with marionettes pliantly obedient to the secret wire pulling of those whose aims are ungodly. Even the ancient Philistines on one occasion prevailed when they said to one another, "Quit yourselves like men." The Hebrew expression is laconic: Be men. Paul in writing to the Corinthians puts the adjuration on the right basis when he says: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity." As written, this too was laconic, and one could hardly have a better admonition for a new year or any time of good resolution. Here it is: Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Play the man! Be strong! Let all you do be done in love!

In the year of grace 1919 let us watch. This duty Mrs. Eddy has explained in the Manual of The Mother Church, wherein is a compendium of ideals for the thought, action, and character of Christian Scientists. Under the heading of "Alertness to Duty" (Art. VIII, Sect. 6) we are instructed that "it shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind.

It is needless to say that Christian Science does not uncover mental suggestion as something new. What it does is to throw the light of Truth on its hidden operations so that all those who watch and pray aright may be absolutely free from its malign control. They become God's freemen who stand firm in the faith that God is all power and obey God as the only Mind. Christ Jesus revealed man as one with Principle, obedient only to the Father. The unprincipled person is like a marionette; he obeys mesmerism as the puppet obeys the jerking of the hidden string.

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