Article September 24, 1921 Issue

Authority

DAVENPORT BROMFIELD

Common usage has deprived the word "authority" of its original meaning and no longer associates it with the idea of author or creator. The word has its derivation in the original Greek word meaning author or cause. To-day the generally accepted definition is, "Power exercised by a person or persons in virtue of their office or trust," and this power or authority is usually bestowed by the people. At times it is self-assumed, owing to one's belief of superior position, training, or knowledge.

It is sometimes said of a man that he is an authority on horticulture, aviation, wireless telegraphy, or other subject. This ordinarily means that he has made such thorough study of his subject that he may be consulted thereupon with profit and that his opinion is without question correct. People speak of military authority or state authority, and generally recognize government as authority. A government official is supposed to act with authority vested in him by others who in turn receive their authority from the people, by an expression of the people's will. As human will is so changeable and unstable, a condition sometimes exists where an individual vested with authority one day is deprived of it the next; also the quality and quantity of the authority vested is frequently a matter of uncertainty which leads to inactivity. It is thus seen that human authority is more or less of an unknown quantity.

In the time of Jesus there existed a class of men called scribes, who were considered to be authorities on the subject of the Mosaic law because they devoted their lives to its study and interpretation. They endeavored to elucidate this law to the people and were consequently looked up to as exponents of it. Doubtless they were authorities on this law as they perceived it, but we find Jesus saying to his students, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." The students of the scribes found the same difficulty in reaching heaven in their day that students of the Bible uninstructed in Christian Science find to-day. All down the ages there have been earnest students of the Scriptures who seemed to know intuitively that within its pages lay the secret of happiness and peace. Many wonderful and lovable characters have resulted from this devotion and idealism; but these devoted students, while sincerely endeavoring to emulate the life of Jesus, were never able to do so practically until the idea of God as Principle was given to the world in Christian Science.

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