Article February 5, 1921 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Calvin Coolidge

["Who Told Thee?"—The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, U.S.A., Dec. 10, 1920]

One of the most creditable qualities that is generally conceded Christian Scientists is their ability to give a reason for their convictions, to explain intelligently why they are adherents of this truth. They have been called thinkers, and rightly so,—and the obviousness of this very fact has attracted many people to investigate the cause of this striking contrast to the average religious followers of the past and present, considering them as a whole.

A man is of little value to a political, religious, or any other party, who can give no other reason for his support than the fact that his father before him was a supporter of that party, or that from his observations his party is the popular party, the largest organized body, and, consequently, the party of the majority and for that reason in his opinion the right one. No matter how many followers of this type, their presence, their subscription, their intended support has no real or substantial value. Too often, in fact, has history proved that the momentum of a movement gained by sheer popularity has been fatal to the movement. To be a worthy constituent a man must know the underlying aims of his party, he must believe in them, and he must practice them. Thoughtfully indeed did Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, say in the Preface of her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. vii), when presenting this Science of true Christianity to the world: "The time for thinkers has come. Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity. Contentment with the past and the cold conventionality of materialism are crumbling away. Ignorance of God is no longer the stepping-stone to faith. The only guarantee of obedience is a right apprehension of Him whom to know aright is Life eternal. Though empires fall, 'the Lord shall reign forever.'"

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