Editorial March 23, 1918 Issue

The Second Commandment

Annie M. Knott

In the Christian Science Sunday school the pupils are eager to gain all the understanding of the Scriptures possible, because they early learn that their demonstrations of harmony depend upon their grasp of Truth. In Article XX of the Manual of The Mother Church, Section 2, we read: "The Sabbath School children shall be taught the Scriptures, and they shall be instructed according to their understanding or ability to grasp the simpler meanings of the divine Principle that they are taught." It is usually found by the teachers that all of the pupils, the older as well as the younger ones, need to be kept in line with what are known as the "first lessons," which begin with the Ten Commandments; for otherwise excuses may be made that although these were at one time committed to memory, they have been forgotten. In such a case the pupil might well be asked whether the multiplication table had been forgotten; and if such a question seemed absurd, it might be well to remind the class that the science of numbers is practically applied in all we do throughout the day, when too many are apt to forget that without the constant recognition of divine law we can never be quite sure that we are doing right or that we are protecting ourselves from the attacks of error.

The older pupils in the Sunday school are more likely to ask questions respecting the second commandment than any of the others; and this reminds us that not so many years ago it was believed by people generally that God was a corporeal being seated on a throne, although they admitted that it was not right for anyone to attempt the representation of Deity as so conceived. Now, however, this belief has largely given place to some recognition of the truth taught throughout the Scriptures that God is incorporeal, that He is omnipresent Spirit, Mind, the intelligence governing the universe and man. No one can justly deny that this change has come about largely through Mrs. Eddy's teachings, because among those who have applied for treatment the greater number contended for a corporeal concept of God, quite forgetful of the Master's declaration that God is Spirit, and that He must be worshiped "in spirit and in truth."

Most students of Christian Science will readily admit that it was easy for them to give up the belief in God as corporeal; but when it comes to man as His image and likeness, it seems to be much more difficult. There the "graven image" against which we are warned in the second commandment makes strong demands upon mortals because of material sense, and so they find it difficult to think of anyone apart from corporeality. Materia medica is of course largely responsible for this tendency, and the school systems of the present day do much to perpetuate it in the study of anatomy and physiology; but when such knowledge is acquired, the pupil knows little or nothing of man as he really is, of the mental and spiritual qualities which alone express the image and likeness of God. It is, however, of the utmost importance that children and adults alike should be taught to know God through the qualities which represent the divine nature, and thus they will be prepared to understand man's divinely bestowed possibilities.

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