Editorial August 4, 1923 Issue

"The Laborer and his Hire"

Albert F. Gilmore

It is probable that few persons, if any, deny the general fact contained in Christ Jesus' statement, "The labourer is worthy of his hire." Yet the question of reasonable compensation for the services of Christian ministry rendered by Christian Science practitioners is one which has occasioned much comment within and without the Christian Science movement. In sending forth his disciples, both the twelve and the seventy, Jesus enjoined them to take "neither purse, nor scrip," that is, neither a receptacle for money nor the leathern bag in which the peasants of that day were accustomed to carry food. The reasonable conclusion is that it was his expectation that their healing works should bring them supply adequate to meet their needs. Their services to mankind were worthy; indeed, the most valuable that could be performed by one mortal for another.

Evidence that the Master duly recognized the necessity of providing for the material needs of his disciples is found in the fact that Judas was their treasurer, that is, their purse bearer. There must have been a source whence came their supply; and it seems altogether probable that it came in the form of remuneration for services rendered. Mrs. Eddy discusses this problem with her accustomed forcefulness and clarity in an article entitled "The Laborer and his Hire" in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (pp. 214-216). Her summary is conclusive: "Till Christian Scientists give all their time to spiritual things, live without eating, and obtain their money from a fish's mouth, they must earn it in order to help mankind with it. All systems of religion stand on this basis."

The proposition that the healing ministry to be genuine should be without monetary compensation can scarcely be said to be based upon either justice or right. Surely no more valuable service can be rendered one than to open his thought to the spiritual facts of existence, thereby destroying the false beliefs which may have become manifest in divers forms of error. Apart from the need of the practitioner of Christian Science to supply himself with the necessities of life is the even larger question of the beneficiary of such service rendering a just return for the good received. While gratitude for freedom is a phase of one's experience in spiritual healing which may well be expressed in words, yet a substantial evidence that one is truly grateful is found in reasonable compensation due him through whose consecrated services the healing work has been accomplished.

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