Article May 25, 1918 Issue

Thought Censorship

LILLIAN BARKER BEEDE

There is a significant object lesson to be gained from the action taken by the United States Government in the establishment of mail censorship. This wise precaution, prohibiting the sending of any information, however free from intentional harm on the part of the thoughtless writer, that can possibly lend assistance to the enemy which is attempting to defeat the great army mobilized for the purpose of establishing and maintaining democratic liberty for the world, reminds us of a note of warning which went forth overy forty years ago to awaken the thoughtful to the wisdom of watchfulness.

When our beloved Leader rediscovered for us the way of salvation and freedom, and announced the essence of her discovery in the significant seven word sentence, "Stand porter at the door of thought" (Science and Health, p. 392), few people comprehended that the metaphysical emancipation proclamation for all mankind was being translated from the Scriptures into twentieth century language. Not many were aware that strict obedience to this admonition and the understanding of the explanatory teachings accompanying it, would be rewarded by as effective demonstrations of the power of the Christ-mind over evil manifested as sin and disease to-day, as was the devotion of Jesus to his divine mission when the external evidences of wrong thinking, known as blindness, paralysis, sin, and death, were destroyed by righteous thinking.

Our Government appeals to the spirit of patriotism when it calls upon its soldiers and citizens to guard well their written words lest they unwittingly give the adversary assistance and advantage. Christian Science, in the ringing words of its Discoverer, appeals to the world to put a censorship on thought. It is a command of equal importance to soldier and citizen, to the man in the trenches and the mother at home. To the one it suggests a sentry challenge to every thought of discouragement, of hatred, of revenge, of fear; to the other it means the most alert censorship of all anxiety, worry, sorrow, for the heroic dear ones at the front.

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