Article September 25, 1920 Issue

The human mind is a compromiser

The Christian Science Monitor

The human mind is a compromiser. The divine Mind, or Principle, is, by its very nature uncompromising; this is one of its essential characteristics. The infinite Mind, God, and its idea represents the fullness of all that is true, within which there is neither compromise nor halfway position. Truth is the only cause and is both unchanging and irrevocable, never possessing the sligtest variableness. Man, Truth's full representation, is unalterably fixed and absolute, never recognizing any expedient or compromise. Facts are veritably stubborn things. Even the most plausible argument cannot alter them in the least. Divine, eternal Principle and its expression constitutes the completeness of reality, within which nothing can enter which defileth or maketh a lie. And it becomes self-evident, therefore, that within this realm of divine Principle, there is neither room nor opportunity for human belief or theory. The very nature of compromise involves making concessions; that is to say, all concerned therein must be prepared to abandon, in part, that which they are convinced is true. Such a course is foreign to the character of absolute truth, which is inscrutable.

A mathematical truth, for example, permits of no deviation. It prohibits the introducation of a false hypothesis or accepting a single false premise in any stage of a problem. The slightest deviation from this position will insure a faulty answer and prevent the externalization of the one and only right solution. Radical adherence to truth in every particular is requisite. Less this would invite disaster. Let us assume that A is conviced that three and three equals five, and B, knowing the truth about the proposition, approaches A in the hope of healing him of the error by showing him the truth. B, however, finds A incensed at the suggestion of changing his view and utterly unwilling to admit the truth that the sum is six. A, because of self-will and pride, is inclined to compromise by accepting five and one-half as the solution. Granting that such a course might result in restoration of good feeling between them is it not plain that irrespective of B's motive in yielding to the error, he would in fact be injuring his friend, for he could not escape perceiving that the acceptance of this false premise as true would inevitably lead to discord and confusion? Far better for B to see that, in time, A would be forced to recognize the simple truth than to attempt to compromise that which is on the face of it uncompromisable.

Precisely analogous is the attempt to accept the human or mortal mind as any part of God's plan. When the counterfeit is recognized it cannot be mistaken for the genuine. When light appears darkness disappears, for it is no part of it. When Mrs. Eddy, with her remarkable moral courage born of her revelation of Truth, declared that all is Mind and its idea and that there is no matter, all the wise men mocked and derided her although she was declaring the same truth as taught and practiced in the beginning of the Christian era; but these false opinions did not in the slightest degree weaken the power of Truth. Christ Jesus saw this plainly when he declared, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." This was evidence of his recognition of the immortality of his words, that could never be reversed nor compromised. Jesus of Nazareth perceived what Mary Baker Eddy again brought to light nineteen centuries later, namely, that even human opinions, though entertained by all alike, would not and could not alter the eternal facts one iota. His words, the expression of the divine truth, which he uttered for the deliverance of humanity could perish from the earth.

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