Editorial August 24, 1918 Issue

The Power in Agreement

William P. McKenzie

When upon the mind of the man who is a premier of a government or the head of a great business enterprise there dawns the vision of a right method for progress in solving many great problems, his unsolved and nearest problem is to secure the cooperation of his associates. We read of the actions of great men in the past, and the historical record of what they did is made to appear obviously right and the only thing that should have been done in the circumstances, but we also find that they were usually faced by detraction, hatred, and bitter opposition. Mortal mind though always a murderer seems to have especial vindictiveness against those who benefit the race, prolong life, and establish happiness and freedom. This, however, is really an evidence of the battle going on between the inevitable coming of the kingdom of heaven and the resistance of the powers and principalities of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The good and great among men, prophets, apostles, and heroes, for whom the children of men build monuments, sometimes after they have slain them, seem to have had a faculty, however, for attracting into agreement with a right plan a sufficient number of workers to get the plan finally carried through. Again and again a country has been delivered, a business enterprise has been saved, by the concerted effort of a few who had clear vision and agreed together on essentials. Jesus thrillingly presents the possibilities brought out by agreement when he said: "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." To ask in the name of Christ Jesus means agreement with the nature of the Christ. When out of such a purified nature desire goes forth, it is really desire for agreement with Principle, and the appeal to Principle is the expression of desire for the demonstration of the Christ-spirit.

No more wonderful basis for agreement is to be found for Christian Scientists, as well as for all mankind, than the daily prayer which is given in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 4): "'Thy kingdom come;' let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!" Who would disagree with this prayer who cherished a good purpose and had an honest mind? No one. Those who cater to sin naturally would object to a sinless race, for were men purified and blessed, and enjoying health and happiness, the occupation of the objector would be gone. Many are like the image makers at Ephesus. "By this craft we have our wealth," they said. Consequently they made riotous objection to the preaching of the gospel in their midst. The caterers to vice of the present day believe just as they did. Will you take away a man's living? they say, when reforms are proposed which would remove temptation from the pathway of children and youths. By tempting and debauching the young, by introducing hell into the lives of citizens, they think that they make gain, and so thinking cannot come into agreement with a good purpose.

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