Editorial January 3, 1925 Issue

"A merry heart"

Duncan Sinclair

In that miscellany of wisdom commonly called the Proverbs of Solomon there occurs the saying, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance." And who will doubt the truth of it? As face answereth face in a mirror, so does the countenance show forth the heart,—the cheerful countenance, the merry heart; the doleful countenance, the heavy heart.

Now if Christian Science does one thing more than another it is to cheer the hearts of mankind, making them happier and gladder. Its message of the unspeakable love of God, its wondrous message which tells that God is Love,—infinite Love,—is reaching the listening ears of men to-day, and is simply transforming many of them, lifting heavy loads of care, healing disease, doing away with suffering, cleansing from sin; in every instance making the heart lighter, gladder, merrier. Nothing can possibly destroy the fear which hangs about the heart of humanity as does the truth, understood and demonstrated, that God is infinite, ever present Love.

It is because Christian Scientists have realized to some extent the great divine fact of God's infinite love and goodness, and the consequent fact that evil is unreal,—the discovery of Mrs. Eddy,—that they, speaking generally, are characterized by the cheerful countenance. And the cheerful countenance is not a thing of mere veneer; neither is it an affectation; it is the sincere outward expression of an inward peace, the direct result of spiritual understanding. Christian Science has revealed the universe of Spirit to them. They have looked into that wonderful, perfect universe, the expression of perfect divine Mind, and beheld its eternal nature; they have seen something of its marvelous beauty, its ineffable purity, its absolute goodness; and in many cases the vision has lifted them out of sorrow or pain or disease. Hence the peace and the gladness,—yes, the merriment of heart. And while they have thus been blessed, never do they close their eyes to the woes of others. Mrs. Eddy, speaking of herself in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 279), tells exactly how the Christian Scientist's heart responds in sympathy to that of his fellow-man. She writes, "I rejoice with those who rejoice, and am too apt to weep with those who weep, but over and above it all are eternal sunshine and joy unspeakable."

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