Article February 18, 1928 Issue

"Seeketh not her own"

MYRTLE TIMMONS SUTHERLAND

THE true Christian attitude is set forth in Paul's fine definition of charity as spiritual love, in the thirteenth chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians. "Charity . . . seeketh not her own," says one part of the definition. Spiritual love, of a verity, does not need to strive, since serenity is a condition of its perfection.

On page 8 of her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Scientific Christianity works out the rule of spiritual love; it makes man active, it prompts perpetual goodness, for the ego, or I, goes to the Father, whereby man is Godlike." The rule of life for the progressive and loving Christian Scientist comes to be the continuous process of listening to the voice of God and obeying the divine commands. The path of this process leads ever away from selfish interest, ever toward the emancipation of humanity, since divine Love is without partiality. Understanding man to be the manifestation of divine Mind, Jesus was eminently an active Christian, devoted to performance, rising above mortal selfhood. He said, "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."

The Christian Scientist, progressing, rises to higher demonstrations of Christian spontaneity. More and more his every contact, every act, bears the mark of demonstration, and his utterances the touch of inspiration. This is a light and joyous mode. It heals the dullness of the monotone of matter, the dreariness of personal self-righteousness, the heaviness of personal responsibility. It is in accord with divine law. It casts aside the dragging baggage of personal sense. In Christian association a kindly glance may satisfactorily supersede hours of discussion, a supporting thought may lift for friend and coworker a load which hours of personal effort and solicitude would but fix more firmly upon him. Perseverance in the steady recognition of the one Mind, adherence to divine ideas instead of to human beliefs, opinions, and illusions, will eliminate disagreement, argument, debate. Thus are all, in the degree of their spiritual illumination, free to have and to hold heaven.

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