Article July 11, 1925 Issue

Unity

ORLANDO J. MC CLURE

The Christian Science movement may be likened to a great army made up of soldiers united for a common purpose. This purpose is to grow in the reflection of God's goodness, and thus lessen the claims of error. As this army gathers recruits daily, its soldiers uniting in the forward march of spiritual progress, we may well rejoice in the words of David, "The battle is the Lord's, and he will give you [error] into our hands." The call to arms has been sounded by Mary Baker Eddy in her pointed question in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 99): "How many are there ready to suffer for a righteous cause, to stand a long siege, take the front rank, face the foe, and be in the battle every day?" The privilege of serving a "righteous cause" is the greatest of all privileges. He who thus serves God is a soldier of high rank.

It is evident that an army which is knit together by so worthy a motive as serving God is not to be rent asunder by any of the claims of evil. Coherence in the ranks of Christian Science is assured by the common reliance upon the one infinite God, good. As the Psalmist says, "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle." The predominant purpose of Christian Scientists being to reflect more of the goodness of God, no lesser issue can thwart them in the attainment of their high ideals. They know that whatever form error may assume, either from within or from without, they need only to be unswerving in their active devotion to the Cause in which they have enlisted, and thus they too will be able to say with the Psalmist, "Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle."

The victories won by this army will be in proportion to the consecration of its individual soldiers, their willingness to "be in the battle every day," and the diligence with which they uphold the banner of their Cause. Mere acquiescence in victories won does not constitude a soldier. Willingness "to suffer for a righteous cause" is requisite. A true soldier is fearless. He does not weaken when under fire. He is never neutral, but always to be found fighting for the side on which he has enlisted. The Revelator clearly indicated the soldier who fails in the full performance of duty when he said, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." There is no excuse for lukewarmness among those who are enlisted in the ranks of Christian Science. Such an attitude bespeaks lack of confidence in the Giver of all good, who demands constant activity on the side of right.

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