Editorial May 17, 1930 Issue

When Temperance Means Total Abstinence

Duncan Sinclair

Christian Science heals the sick and regenerates the sinner. Throughout the world to-day there are thousands, yes, tens of thousands, who are living healthy, happy, well-ordered lives because of its teaching. These joyfully and unostentatiously tell of their healing when opportunity is afforded them; but, better than words, their lives bear testimony to the fact. Moreover, the teaching of Christian Science as to the perfection of God and His idea, man, and the reality of good and the unreality of evil, has created, and is continuing to create, on a far larger scale than is generally supposed, a decided advance towards righteous living, including temperance, on the part of civilized humanity generally. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 404), "The temperance reform, felt all over our land, results from metaphysical healing, which cuts down every tree that brings not forth good fruit."

Now, whenever anyone receives help from Christian Science; whenever anyone has a healing of sickness or sin through its teachings, he begins to see the immense possibilities of this Science; and there follows the desire to help his fellow men, even as he himself has been helped. Then he may seek to unite more closely as a church member with the movement which is active in spreading the truth about God and His creation, man; and probably before long he is taking part in the healing, regenerating work himself. As he progresses in the work, gaining in understanding and faith and getting better results, he does not forget those of his fellow men who are the victims of the evil of intemperance. And while he continues his labor of healing those who come to him for help, through his understanding of divine Science, he is aware of the value of good civic laws. Consequently, he supports when he can those who are engaged in the making of such laws, and helps to sustain the laws themselves after they have been enacted.

Surely nobody is blind to the havoc which the intemperate use of intoxicating liquors has wrought on the health and happiness of mankind. Everybody knows how men are stupefied by their use, rendered physically and morally weak, and when under their influence may commit acts of impropriety and violence of which they would be incapable when sober. Everybody knows of the crimes which have been committed by men when inebriated. But even a very little alcohol may upset the physical and moral balance and result in words which sometimes are only with difficulty erased from memory, and in deeds which too often have resulted in lives of suffering and remorse. Facing such facts as these, Mrs. Eddy did not refrain from expressing herself clearly and forcibly. No one who reads the words which follow can possibly doubt what her thought was on the use of intoxicants. On pages 288 and 289 of her book, "Miscellaneous Writings" she says, "Whatever intoxicates a man, stultifies and causes him to degenerate physically and morally." Then, in language entirely devoid of equivocation, she utterly condemns the use of strong drink: "Strong drink is unquestionably an evil, and evil cannot be used temperately: its slightest use is abuse; hence the only temperance is total abstinence."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"O'er waiting harpstrings"