Article January 20, 1923 Issue

Unity in Principle

ERNEST C. MOSES

In connection with her discovery of Christian Science as the unerring law of God, Mrs. Eddy discovered that He whom mortals ignorantly worship is really divine Principle, infinite cause or creator, the one Mind, of whom man and the universe are the expression. This comprehensive character of Deity revealed to her that Principle is the basis of all unity, the sustainer of all harmony in heaven and earth. Therefore, Mrs. Eddy persistently taught that infinite Principle is the only causative Mind, and that all men should learn to understand, love, and obey this one Mind, and be at peace. She writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," beginning on page 469: "With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science."

Throughout history, others have glimpsed certain facts concerning this unity, and have written about it; but it can hardly be said that these writers have seen or realized that the Principle of all true unity is God, or that God is the one infinite Principle of all. Failing to discern that divine Principle is invariably demonstrable, no writer on religion, before Mrs. Eddy, had discovered any rule whereby to make this truth uniformly practical and available to humanity. The full revelation of universal Principle and its demonstrable rules remained for Mrs. Eddy to discover and state, as in full accord with Biblical prophecy and teachings.

A writer in the thirteenth century stated that "the human race is most like God when it is most one, for the principle of unity dwells in Him alone. Wherefore it is written, 'Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.'" This European sage recognized the origin of all unity, drawing his inspiration from the greatest of all Hebraic laws,—the law which Jesus quoted and affirmed as the basis of his Christianity. The writer, however, only commented on "a principle," and that principle as existing in God. This concept was probably far in advance of the thoughts of causation expressed by his contemporaries; and so it stands as a rather isolated waymark on the devious path traced by human searchers after Truth, although it falls far short of the understanding of Principle, as God Himself.

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