Article August 30, 1924 Issue

Expressions of Gratitude

RALPH G. LINDSTROM

There are earnest students of Christian Science who would not for an instant permit other forms of error to go unrebuked, who unprotestingly accept mortal mind's suggestion that they cannot give expression to gratitude in the Wednesday evening testimony meetings. Now error is always error in whatever form it presents itself, and it should be unceasingly resisted until destroyed.

Is the suggestion of fear which would preclude expression of gratitude for healing any the less an error to be met than a suggestion of sickness, or lack, or sorrow, or some form of sin? In the former case it claims power to prevent the discharge of the natural function of expression; in the latter case so-called mortal mind claims the ability to express some form of discord.

When one through Christian Science first sees the necessity of awakening from the dream of materiality, he is, as was Nehemiah, with regard to the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem, impressed with the desirability of restoring his walls of right thinking, or his spiritual concept of life. As with Nehemiah, the Sanballats, Tobiahs, and Geshems of mortal mind will first deride and scorn and then conspire. When they find there is definite progress in constructing the wall by the healing of sickness and sin, they may try to get one down again on the material plains of Ono, for a mischievous compromise. Do we not enter into such a compromise when we accept as true the claim that we cannot express our gratitude, that we are afraid of the number of faces in the Wednesday evening meeting? The very presence of a large number of sincere seekers for Truth is eloquent expression of gratitude. In this view the presence of those in attendance at testimony meetings is reassuring, and should occasion no distress to those giving audible expression of gratitude.

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