Article December 11, 1920 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Charles G. Fenwick, Eustace Percy, Frank S. C. Wicks

["The Act of God"—The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, U.S.A. Nov. 10, 1920]

The metaphysics of Christianity shows God to be Principle, or the eternal cause of all things, the everlasting Mind that does not permit, has never permitted, and never will permit any other so-called power to take His place, for He is All. Divine Science proves this statement by simple logic which demonstrates that real consciousness, infinite good, or Mind in its unlimited meaning, exists. All things are the reflection of this Mind, but nothing material is included in this expression. The reason that matter is not found in Mind and its expression is the very elemental one that grapes do not grow from fig trees. Principle brings forth its likeness, that which is incorporeal, spiritual, and eternal like itself. Matter, or mortal mind, material man and a material universe, are unreal. Physical scientists, attempting to prove the substance of matter, find it what they call a from of energy, or activity. This is merely a supposed counterfeit of the activity of Mind, which is spiritual and unlimited. Before this fact the belief of matter must finally melt away, for "he uttered his voice, the earth melted."

The material scheme of things, based on this supposititious carnal mind, or so-called material cause, has "sought out many inventions" about God and has proceeded to permeate human society with them, incorporating them in its school books, its prayer books, its law books, and in endless other avenues by which men gain knowledge. Surely from out of the rightly named Dark Ages came one of these "inventions," that legal phrase, now long established in Anglo-Saxon law, "act of God," three words which Sir Edward Coke first defined and used in 1581 as meaning storms, lightning, tempests, and the like. It has in modern times been extended in meaning to include death, illness, flood, and so on. The happening of one of these so-called contingencies, which is legally termed an "act of God," is, in general, allowed as an excuse for not performing an agreement entered into. Various forms of contracts, notably steamship tickets, freight receipts, and some employment agreements contain this phrase which operates as a release of liability.

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