Article July 9, 1921 Issue

Almsgiving

MARTIN WACHS

Sooner or later all men must come to know just what constitutes the spirit of true almsgiving. If they would hasten the day when the brotherhood of man is to be realized on earth, as it already is in the realm of reality, the one Mind, the sooner they learn this the better. Just how this is to be accomplished is lovingly pointed out in all the writings of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. It is by so illumining the pages of the Bible that all who are seeking the truth may find therein lessons literally teeming with gems of incomparable brilliancy, that this is brought about. One of these passages is to be found in the third chapter of Acts. Here there is brought to our attention, in a simple way, which, however, Christian Science makes still more evident, what is commonly thought to be almsgiving and what it really is.

We are told of how Peter and John were making their way to the temple "at the hour of prayer." There was daily placed at "the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful" one who was not only a helpless cripple but poor and in want. On this occasion Peter and John passed by him and were asked for whatever pittance they were willing to bestow. This, to the beggar and to those about him was thought to be almsgiving, or getting alms. When, therefore, he asked alms of Peter and John he was unquestionably expecting to receive money, for we read that when Peter said to him, "Look on us," "he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them." Then it was that that which was unexpected came into his experience. Peter, filled with Christly compassion, thinking only of the nature of man as Mind made him, realizing the nothingness of materiality, gave out what was indeed alms, when he said, with that authority which comes only to the spiritually inspired, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." That was why, when Peter took him by the hand, he stood as upright as any man.

Mrs. Eddy must have realized, just as had Peter and John on this occasion, that the mesmerism of lack and helplessness could only be overcome by means of a spiritual understanding of God and His idea, man. She tells us quite simply in the Preface of her "Miscellaneous Writings" just what charity is, when she writes, "A certain apothegm of a Talmudical philosopher suits my sense of doing good. It reads thus: 'The noblest charity is to prevent a man from accepting charity; and the best alms are to show and to enable a man to dispense with alms.'" This, of course, is true of not only what is called charity and alms but of all material conditions as well. Mrs. Eddy saw that it was the false sense of charity, in contradistinction to the true reflection of Love which has seemed to keep man fettered with all sorts of diabolical limitations and to make the beliefs of want and woe seem so very real to the unillumined mortal mind.

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Almsgiving

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