Editorial March 1, 1924 Issue

The Joy of Demonstration

Duncan Sinclair

The nature of the work of the Christian Scientist could not be better defined than in these words of Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 450): "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingnes and the allness of God, or good." Whether the Christian Scientist be in the public practice of Christian Science or not, he has the same kind of work to do; wherever he may be, the errors of material sense must be scientifically handled and overcome. He has fallen heir to a great inheritance in the truth Christian Science reveals; and he must make use of it, not only for his own benefit, but for that of all mankind.

There is sometimes a tendency to think ourselves not skilled enough to demonstrate the truth when we are accosted by some phase or other of error; that it would be more satisfactory to allow some one else to do the work. It may be that one's understanding of Truth is less than that of some one else; but there is no excuse in the fact for shirking one's obvious duty. And it has to be remembered that it is not elaborate argument that is required to heal, so much as the realization of the allness of good, its omnipresence and omnipotence. It may seem necessary to handle the suggestions of evil by a process of affirmation of truth and denial of error, but healing is always the result of the realization of the truth. This being so, no one should be deterred from applying the rules of divine Science for himself, whenever the necessity arises for him to do so.

Now the work of the Christian Scientist should be health-giving and joyous. Paul told the Galatians that one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. And joyousness should accompany the efforts of every one who is striving to realize the allness of God, good. In Isaiah it is written, "And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." It is entirely incongruous to think that those who are laboring faithfully and scientifically for the sake of their fellow-men should be other than healthy and joyous. It is a mistake to suffer because of the false beliefs of others. The error of belief, whatever it may claim to be, should be seen by the Christian Scientist as an unreal concept, an illusion of material sense without any directive intelligence; and thus, a nonentity, without real presence or power.

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