Editorial September 22, 1923 Issue

Demonstration versus Riddance

Ella W. Hoag

All the world would like to be rid of evil effects. Any one who thought he could really desire sickness and suffering, want and woe, would be considered by all as totally abnormal in his imaginations. He would be looked upon as an anomaly in the human status of men and things. From the beginning of time men have, therefore, sought for ways whereby evil results could be annulled, thinking they might thus be delivered from all torment. In spite of the fact that the Bible has always taught that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," men have still believed they could be freed from ill effects, regardless of what might have been their cause. It is from this standpoint that both sin and sickness have been dealt with for almost countless centuries.

In line with Bible teaching, Christian Science has come completely reversing this practice. Instead of dealing with effects it always goes directly to cause, and correcting the mistaken cause, the unpleasant effect is made impossible. Thus Christian Science stops looking merely for riddance from evil, but instead demands demonstration of good. In place of attempting to overcome evil results alone, it teaches the necessity at all times of going to the root of the difficulty and obliterating that which is responsible for the wrong effect.

Now all this is very well known to the student of Christian Science, and if he were asked if he accepted the requirement of dealing with cause rather than effect, he would undoubtedly reply with a very positive affirmative. It is one thing, however, to accept a proposition as correct and quite another to prove it so. The Christian Scientist knows that many an effort is necessary before he becomes immovably fixed on the ground of demonstrating good instead of merely trying to rid himself of unsatisfactory effects. He finds he must constantly be on guard lest he be betrayed into seeking freedom from discomfort in place of working for the exalted purpose of proving the allness of God, good, and his own unity therewith. To do this there must always be the willingness to turn the searchlight of Truth upon his heart's innermost intents, in order that every evil cause shall be discovered and eliminated, and consequent deliverance from evil effects result in the only right way.

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Demonstration versus Riddance

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