Editorial July 1, 1922 Issue

Goodness

Duncan Sinclair

It is easy to deceive the so-called human mind. Material existence being a state of self-deception,—a mesmeric condition, and not the embodiment of the truth of being,—it is easy to delude mortals, and to induce them away from the path of mental rectitude. And when they are mentally off the line, how readily do they plunge headlong on the broad road to destruction! The Christian Scientist knows this. He knows also how alert he has to be lest he be taken in by the numerous devices of material sense, which lie along the path of life to tempt him from the way of simple goodness.

One's arguments may be brilliant as regards the reality of good and the unreality of evil. One may be, apparently, thoroughly grounded in the letter of divine Science: but what is the real test of one's life? Is it not the simple goodness of it? Goodness is a great, comprehensive mental quality, rich in loving-kindness, in mercifulness, honesty, compassion, humaneness, in temperance, purity, and affection,—a quality which in many cases can more readily be perceived intuitively than defined specifically. There is no doubt, however, that goodness can be readily detected, just as evil will expose itself to any one who is himself reflecting the goodness which is of God.

Mrs. Eddy, in her writings, lays great stress on goodness,—simple goodness. On page 2 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," for example, she says, "Goodness attains the demonstration of Truth." A man may be primed in the letter of Christian Science and able to voice its teachings with decided vigor, but be as barren of goodness as a desert rock of vegetation. Is it possible that such a one can demonstrate Truth in the healing of sickness or sin? Impossible; because "goodness attains the demonstration of Truth." Evil never can. Indeed, it is strictly true that the power to heal through divine Science is in direct proportion to one's goodness.

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