Editorial August 13, 1927 Issue

The Moral Demands of Christian Science

Albert F. Gilmore

The student of the four Gospels is deeply impressed by the high moral standard set by Christ Jesus in both his teachings and example. He insisted upon the necessity of overcoming the demands of the flesh at every point and of constant abiding in the sure sense of man's present perfection. Upon no other basis can salvation be won. His familiar words, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," leave no other choice to the followers of the Nazarene than to strive to the utmost to realize man's present perfection; and realizing it to exemplify it in the daily life. Any lower standard of morality leaves one entangled in the web of materiality, from which there is no escape except through spiritual means.

Mrs. Eddy raised high the standard for all Christian Scientists, likewise both by word and example, making it perfectly plain that progress Spiritward is made only through the laying down of all material belief as real, including the gratification of the so-called pleasurable senses, as well as the painful experience from which one years to be released. On page 261 of "Miscellaneous Writings" are words so significant that all may profitably ponder them deeply. "It is impossible to be a Christian Scientist," she writes, "without apprehending the moral law so clearly that, for conscience' sake, one will either abandon his claim to even a knowledge of this Science, or else make the claim valid." And she adds, "All Science is divine. Then, to be Science, it must produce physical and moral harmony." Wondrous words! How they stimulate to higher endeavor the worthy student of our beloved Leader's teachings! How far above material living did she set her standard!

The Christian Scientist finds in these statements the standard for his own endeavor in seeking the kingdom. Divine Science rightly applied does produce moral harmony; the result is inevitable. If moral harmony be not manifest in our lives, should it not occasion the most rigid examination on our part to determine in what particular our thoughts do not conform to the divine? The obligation to exemplify the truth we acclaim is not less in our moral relationship than in case of physical disease. As disease is usually accompanied with physical discomfort, release is eagerly sought with ready willingness to depart from the false ways, and the sufferer takes the necessary measure of correction joyously; but when the situation involves the gratification of pleasureable sense, often willingness to leave one's accustomed ways, although they be false, and fraught with ultimate disaster, does not obtain.

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