Article October 29, 1921 Issue

Intelligence

SIR HENRY JAPP

The ordinarily accepted definition of intelligence is, "The faculty of understanding." This faculty manifested by the child at school having an aptness in grasping the teacher's meaning and quickly mastering the subjects taught. In later years it is manifested by the business man in the success with which he conducts his business, or by the professional man through his skill in his chosen career. Humanly, however, intelligence is generally looked upon as an endowment at birth, as a personal possession, a faculty which one individual may have more of than another who seemingly lacks intelligence. Although it is conceded that one may increase to some extent his ability to manifest this faculty, yet one's endowment of intelligence at birth is very largely supposed to be the determining factor.

It has not been generally noted that when ignorance is removed intelligence becomes more manifest, it being supposed that without some considerable display of intelligence first being evidenced it is impossible to remove ignorance. It will be seen, however, with a little consideration, that ignorance must be a mental cloud or darkness which seemingly hides intelligence as the clouds hide the sun. If, therefore, right thinking is applied, these mental clouds will disappear, and it is only when we come to study the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, that we learn what right thinking or righteousness really is. On page 588 of the textbook we find this definition: "INTELLIGENCE. Substance; self-existent and eternal Mind; that which is never unconscious nor limited," and on page 2 Mrs. Eddy writes, "God is intelligence."

Knowing what intelligence actually is, one is able to apply right thinking to the study of it. From these scientific definitions we therefore see that intelligence is neither limited in any way nor is it the personal possession of any individual to the exclusion of others, but that it is universal, infinite, ever present, and ever available. Such intelligence is by no means material nor does it emanate from a material brain, for as Mrs. Eddy says in the "scientific statement of being," on page 468 of Science and Health, "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter." Intelligence, being infinite and ever present, must fill all space; not in the sense that it is spread out thinly throughout space as the atmosphere is attenuated, but that all of it is everywhere, even as the truth that twice two is four is ever present. All of this truth, twice two is four, is present everywhere and can be used simultaneously by millions of people all over the earth, and yet none will suffer lack of it through his neighbors availing themselves of it at the same time.

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