True Philanthropy

WILIAM COLWELL BARTLETT

The world's view of philanthropy is all too often the limited one of bestowal of vast material wealth for humanitarian purposes. Those alone to whom such privilege is vouchsafed by limited mortal belief are the ones whom the world counts wealthy. Such a standpoint would eliminate from the possible practice of philanthropy most of the human race.

Do we as Christian Scientists accept this view? We cannot do so if we recognize that our opportunities to benefit the human race are unlimited, since God, good, is infinite in His immortal being and expression. Such opportunities therefore do not depend upon matter or material conditions; neither can they be limited by any such thing.

It may be helpful to consider what are some of our opportunities, and how by improving them we can be philanthropists in the highest and therefore the most truly beneficial sense. Do we love? Are we practicing the Golden Rule? Are we daily striving to exemplify the Christ-spirit in our thoughts and lives?

Obedience to Jesus' injunction, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," involves much more than at first appears. To understand in some degree the teachings of Christian Science, that God is All and that He creates and governs all, reveals the necessity for increased consecration and obedience in putting this teaching into practice. If we permit any unkind criticism in our thinking or speech, aught of envy, rivalry, jealousy, strife, human outlining, —perhaps for a dear one, —or limitation of another or of his experience of good, are we doing unto others that which we would have them do unto us?

Working in Christian Science, we early learn the necessity of knowing and declaring the perfection of God and man. But such declaration must fall short of realization and fruition if made for ourselves but denied for others. If we declare the eternal facts of being for ourselves, yet accept as real any claim of limitation for our brother, we are in belief binding upon another that from which we ourselves would escape. Shall we not watch and pray that we do not so bind another's burdens upon him? Rather, shall we not constantly and consistently strive to recognize the nothingness of such falsities about ourselves and about our brother, and in their stead declare and see the perfection of God's creation?

True philanthropy is thus seen to be wholly unselfish. The word "philanthropy" in its root meaning signifies love for one's fellow-men. Such love includes no desire for worldly homage or recognition. It is known to the "Father, which seeth in secret;" it is "hid with Christ in God." The faithful student who humbly, joyously, and lovingly strives day by day to conform his thinking to the truth, "according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount," is letting his light shine before men. Those to whom the light is thus reflected cannot fail to see his good works; and the Father is glorified, as Jesus declared.

Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, recognized that to love one's neighbor, to be a philanthropist, is not the work of a moment, but an undertaking that requires constant attention and thought. She admonishes us in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 203), "Goodness and philanthropy begin with work and never stop working." Here, indeed, is the keynote to success in such work.

Work for the Cause of Christian Science enables us truly to practice philanthropy. As the unselfish desire to help and to heal unfolds within our consciousness, we indeed find "within the wide channels of The Mother Church dutiful and sufficient occupation for all its members" (Manual, p. 45). We also learn the truth of the old saying, "Charity begins at home." The healing and regeneration of the human race, in so far as the problem is ours individually, begins in our own consciousness. As we thus watch and pray that our own thinking remain steadfast to the ideal, we find that our experience conforms to and expresses true philanthropy as it is epitomized in our Leader's words (Miscellany, pp. 287, 288), "Philanthropy is loving, ameliorative, revolutionary; it wakens lofty desires, new possibilities, achievements, and energies; it lays the axe at the root of the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit; it touches thought to spiritual issues, systematizes action, and insures success; it starts the wheels of right reason, revelation, justice, and mercy; it unselfs men and pushes on the ages."

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