Editorial November 15, 1930 Issue

Consolation

Duncan Sinclair

The problem of bringing consolation to the afflicted is often an urgent one. The world's burdens are many and frequently onerous. Bereavement may lie heavily upon the shoulders of mortals, and loss tends to weigh many of them down oppressively. How to relieve the burden, the sense of loss, the sorrow—this is one of the tasks which religion has to undertake. It is a task which Christian Science has to undertake, and, be it said in gratitude and humility, it does so with commendable success. Many a poverty-stricken mortal, many a bereaved one, many a sorrowful and sad one, has found in its teachings the truth which has healed the sense of lack and sorrow, and dried the tear.

Kindly sympathy and loving consideration will do much to alleviate affliction, for the simple reason that they are divine qualities. But something more is required; and Christian Science gives it. Mrs. Eddy says in her pointed, clear style on page 283 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," "Consolation and peace are based on the enlightened sense of God's government." Her words lead thought away from human emotion to God's government, God's law, as the foundation of consolation and peace. This is essentially the aim of Christian Science.

Christian Science is concerned primarily, then, with fundamental Truth. As one gets an understanding of spiritual truth every human problem assumes a different aspect, and one begins to understand how it may be solved. Thus, Christian Science reveals that, in reality, there exists naught but God and His creation, the spiritual universe, including man. This real spiritual universe is governed by God's law, which is perfect. In it there is therefore no inharmony, no suffering, no sorrow. Christian Science teaches, also, that all discord results from material thinking or believing, that is, thinking or believing which is based on the fallacy that a power or substance—matter—other than God, Spirit, exists as reality. The truth about reality has been revealed, and all to whom it is known have to make their own decision as to which side they will take, the side of Spirit or the side of supposititious matter.

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