Editorial November 17, 1923 Issue

Rejoice Evermore!

Ella W. Hoag

The Bible talks much about rejoicing. It says that even the little hills rejoice, and that he trees of the field clap their hands. It presents picture after picture of a world given over to rejoicing. Frequent calls for all men to be joyful are found therein. Men are told to rejoice in the Lord, in salvation, in the glory of God, in every good thing. More than this, they are admonished to rejoice in the midst of suffering and tribulation. The apostles frequently affirmed the ad visability of maintaining joy and gladness in the presence of apparent trials and troubles.

To rejoice when good is evident seems natural and right, and most persons are willing to see the justice of such a demand. They say: Yes, when the sun shines benignly on the earth and all is bright and prosperous, then it is easy enough to be glad; but why should we sing hymns of thanksgiving when contrary winds are blowing and only discord and disaster are to be seen? To rejoice at such times is something that most Christians have often found difficult. The ordinary religious teaching, working from the standpoint of the need either of submitting to evil or of resisting it as something real and therefore to be met with rebellion, has failed to bring men the understanding of how under such circumstances they could possibly rejoice.

When Christian Science reveals the allness of God and the consequent nothingness—the unreality—of evil, it opens the door to the possibility of always being joyful. How wonderful that under whatever apparent circumstances we may declare for and dwell with the glories of infinite good! How unspeakably comforting that we may at all times contemplate the grandeur of our perfect God and His perfect creation! Surely this is always sufficient cause for rejoicing! Whatever the apparent conditions, the Christian Scientist therefore recognizes his God-given ability and right always to turn immediately from the testimony of the deceitful material senses and fix his gaze on the truth of being, where all is harmonious and good.

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