Editorial September 10, 1927 Issue

"Adorable One"

Albert F. Gilmore

Great significance attaches to Mrs. Eddy's use of the term "Adorable One" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 16), when interpreting the phrase, "Hallowed be thy name," which appears in the Lord's Prayer. Analysis of the term sheds much light upon the subject of true worship of God. Adorable is derived from two Latin words meaning primarily to pray; adorable then signifies worthy to be worshiped with profound reverence, worthy to be honored as divine. It follows, therefore, that "Adorable One" signifies the one and only God, worthy to be reverenced and loved in the highest degree.

With this explanation before us, let us ask ourselves, Is our worship of God in keeping with our Leader's concept of the true meaning of worship as expressed in the familiar phrase, "Adorable One"? In order to answer this question accurately, it would be necessary to examine our thoughts, to determine what concept we are holding of God and our attitude toward Him. Do we profoundly reverence God, holding Him as the acme of perfection, true Being, from whom emanates all existence, the cause and creator of the infinite universe of Spirit, the only universe? Do we honor Him as the Holy One, the all-good, who fills all space and possesses all power? These are important questions to ask ourselves, and upon our ability to answer them affirmatively depends our right to claim that we truly worship God as the "Adorable One."

Furthermore, are we sure that our worship of God is full-hearted? Is He supreme in our affections and prayers; or do we still divide our allegiance, holding, only half consciously it may be, to the belief that there is another power and presence, another cause and creator of another universe, albeit a supposititious one? It seems highly necessary to examine ourselves in this respect, in order to insure that when we repeat our Leader's spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Prayer our mental attitude conforms to our words. If it does not so conform, adjustment is necessary to free ourselves from the possible charge of hypocrisy.

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