Editorial September 6, 1930 Issue

Intelligence

Clifford P. Smith

IN Christian Science, intelligence is usually regarded as a mental quality. As such, dictionaries define it as the faculty of understanding; readiness of comprehension. Mrs. Eddy has spoken of intelligence as equivalent to Mind, but oftener she has spoken of it as Mind's chief or characteristic quality. Thus she has defined it as "the primal and eternal quality of infinite Mind" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 469).

What does this fact of being signify for us? What does it signify for persons who are learning and demonstrating the truth of being? In effect, Mrs. Eddy answers this question on page 475 of the same book while defining and describing man. There she describes man in part as "that which has not a single quality underived from Deity; that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker."

In this text Mrs. Eddy uses the term "man" as meaning all men—as meaning the full manifestation of Mind. Nevertheless, when the real man is regarded individually, every man is completely and perfectly intelligent. He expresses intelligence to the full measure of his identity—to the full extent that he in particular is the reflection of Mind. As regards intelligence, as well as all else, the real man lacks nothing. This truth of being applies to each of us.

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