Editorial February 7, 1931 Issue

Certain Aspects of Unity

Clifford P. Smith

Among the factors which contribute to the success of any undertaking by many persons, none is more important than unity. A large undertaking may succeed when much else is meager or variable, but unity is essential to success when many persons have agreed to act together. When it is lacking, the desired results are delayed or reduced. When it is present, other deficiencies and difficulties are surmounted. Furthermore, when few or many persons are associated for a good purpose, their unity is spiritual; hence, it is directly related to the divine Principle of all ability, achievement, and success.

Necessarily the most important aspect of unity is that which exists between God and man—between divine Principle and its highest manifestation. This relationship involves consequences having no equal and no exact parallel. Next in importance to it is the oneness of man—the unity which exists in absolute being between individual men. This relationship is consequential to an extent that approaches the first one; and there is a reason why it may deserve more attention from Christian Scientists than it has generally received. Our tenets, as Mrs. Eddy has formulated them, declare and continually remind us of "man's unity with God" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 497; Church Manual, p. 15), but they imply without stating the oneness of man. Elsewhere in her writings, however, this truth is declared explicitly. For instances, see Science and Health 267:6; Miscellaneous Writings 164:23.

Among the Master's most instructive sayings is the one in which he emphasized two commandments as follows (Matt. 22:34–40): "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

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