Article August 6, 1921 Issue

Courtesy

DAVENPORT BROMFIELD

AN acknowledged authority on good manners and politeness wrote thus to his son: "Know, then, that as learning, honor, and virtue are absolutely necessary to gain you the esteem and admiration of mankind, politeness and good breeding are equally necessary to make you welcome and agreeable in conversation and common life. All people are judges of the lesser talents, such as civility, affability, and an obliging, agreeable address and manner, because they feel the good effects of them, as making society easy and pleasing." A gentleman is supposed to be courteous and polite not only toward those who agree with him but also toward those who may disagree with him or abuse him. A gentleman realizes that each individual is entitled to his point of view; he is also moderate in speech and action. How often has it been heard that a certain individual had charming manners but a bad reputation. The whole world acknowledges a certain kind of courtesy and good manners as being necessary and essential to an enlightened civilization but this courtesy is often of the outward appearance and not of the heart.

A study of Jesus' life and activities shows clearly that while at times severe toward error, he always manifested true compassion and courtesy to those about him. He said to his students, "When ye come into an house, salute it." The testimony of those who knew her personally, and all that has been written of her prove Mrs. Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, to be most courteous. Her words and writings breathe out a gentleness and refinement which are healing. Christian Science, being metaphysical, heeds not the outward appearance but finds man in the image and likeness of perfect Principle, God. It shows the real man loving God with all his mind and his neighbor as himself. The real man, recognizing Principle, God, as his Father and loving his neighbor as himself, manifests a divine compassion and courtesy that casts the mote out of his brother's eye and heals the sick. As Peter in his first general epistle wrote, "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."

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Courtesy

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