Article October 18, 1924 Issue

"Neither shall they learn war any more"

Ella W. Hoag

Isaiah's prophecy of the time when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more," has always held out a blessed hope to mankind, and mankind is beginning to think this hope may be realized. It is even commencing to believe it would like to be rid of war. Perhaps nothing is more in the thought of the world at large to-day than that the nations shall be spared present and future conflict. Men are surely learning that little can really be gained from strife, and they are talking of ways and means whereby all war may be avoided. They are wondering if their desires cannot be gained in some less terrible manner than that which not only results in destruction to their neighbor and his interests, but which also involves more or less disaster to themselves and their own affairs. Indeed, it is certainly dawning upon the world that one cannot suffer alone. The interests of all men are so interwoven that if one be blessed all are blessed, if one be harmed the blight falls in some measure on all.

Christian Science teaches clearly that in a certain sense every one's interests are identical. It is therefore quite impossible for any one to say, I am entirely independent of my fellow-men, hence it makes little difference to me what may be affecting them either harmfully or otherwise. All men are really linked indissolubly with each other, and it is only as they waken to this fact that they will give up their self-seeking and begin to look for their own in their neighbor's good. When men learn that in blessing their neighbor they really subserve their own interests, they will recognize Jesus' wisdom when he laid such stress on the commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 467) Mrs. Eddy has made a statement which is perfectly familiar to every Christian Scientist. It is one that Scientists have studied and quoted perhaps as frequently as any other. She writes: "It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established." On the practice of the truth this statement sets forth the future prosperity of our Cause largely depends. Certainly it can never be considered too earnestly or used too exactly. Therein is the path to the demonstration of perfect unity among men and the consequent abolition of all that makes for war. Indeed it is only through the demonstration of this truth that war will finally be done away with. Christian Scientists therefore should awaken to the responsibility which it is theirs to prove,—first of all among themselves,—that this truth is practical, that it may be demonstrated here and now.

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