Editorial December 29, 1923 Issue

All Things New

Albert F. Gilmore

Paul's assurance of the complete redemption of all who truly accept Christ as the Messiah was unbounded. "Therefore," declared he, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." To this enthusiastic Apostle to the Gentiles, the whole-hearted acceptance of Christ's mission and message enabled one to leave his restrictive past with its unhappy experiences in the beliefs of the flesh, and to gain that newness of life which signalizes the spiritual new birth. In speaking of the radical changes which accompany the spiritualization of thought, Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 24), "He to whom 'the arm of the Lord' is revealed will believe our report, and rise into newness of life with regeneration." Surely this "newness of life" is the recognition of the spiritual, perfect selfhood, which is man's permanent state.

In contrast with the sordidness and futility of material sense, would not this regenerative experience reveal all things new,—new indeed to the consciousness being freed of its gross materialism? These periods of refreshment and renewal are the successive states of consciousness which mark the unfoldment of God's perfect ideas, rising higher and yet higher from their infinite source, divine Mind, in whom man lives, moves, and has his being. They are the concomitants of the spiritual awakening which is constantly taking place as mortals enlarge their vision. It is the putting on of the new man, the revelation of God's infinite creation of ideas which express Him.

It is customary in human affairs to set apart certain seasons for special rejoicing and thankfulness in commemoration of the goodness of God, the bestower of all blessedness. Such festal seasons are Thanksgiving, a day long celebrated in America, and a custom now being adopted in other countries; the Christmas season, quite generally observed throughout Christendom; and still another season of rejoicing, and, especially of mental stock-taking, is the New Year, recognized scarcely less by Christians than by other great religious bodies of the world. We may well recall that the New Year whenever celebrated is a milestone observed of men as a convenience in the measure of duration rather than a spiritual milepost. The unfoldment of perfect ideas is continuously successive; it knows no beginning and no ending, no time, no season, but the ever present now, so filled with the bliss of harmonious being as to require no festal season, no refreshment, and no renewal. Where all is joy, rejoicing never ceases. Where all is Love, Love's manifestation needs no celebration. Mankind's great need is for Love expressed; and whatever occasion makes for an increased expression of kindness and good-will promotes human well-being.

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