Editorial July 7, 1928 Issue

Man's Identity Persistent

Albert F. Gilmore

There is no doubt as to the longing common to mankind for assurance not only of the continuity of existence, but of the continuity of individual identity—for assurance of immortality for the individual. This desire, general among mortals, is, however, for the continuance of a purified sense of being, of an existence entirely apart from the conditions which materiality seems to impose. When Christ Jesus overcame the belief of those about him that he had passed the portals called death, he demonstrated for all time the fact of life as continuous. In his resurrection and ascension he not only nullified forever the possibility that the belief called death can destroy man, but proved that through the understanding of Life the continuity of man's true identity is demonstrated. Thus he became the Way-shower to the gaining of eternal life.

The Master's experience on the mount of transfiguration when, accompanied by James, Peter, and John, he saw Moses and Elias, also proves beyond peradventure the persistence of individuality—that identity is permanent. Mrs. Eddy's statements on the subject are crystal clear, leaving no doubt in the mind of the reader that all God's ideas are forever preserved in their individual characters, are persistent and permanent. She writes on page 70 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "The divine Mind maintains all identities, from a blade of grass to a star, as distinct and eternal."

Words could scarcely convey a more definite statement. Every idea of Mind is eternal, indestructible; and, moreover each persists in its individual character. It never crosses the path of another, never loses its identity through blending with another, but remains forever "distinct and eternal." This is true of all God's ideas, from the least to the greatest, even of the compound idea, man, which we learn includes all the lesser ideas of Mind. What greater assurance could we have that man forever retains his own identity; that his individuality is never lost or impaired, nor changed except through the unfoldment which characterizes every idea of Mind!

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