Editorial May 23, 1931 Issue

Individual Sufficiency

Clifford P. Smith

In the only real universe, infinite Mind or Principle produces exactly what man can and should consume. With equal precision, Mind distributes this adequate supply to individual man. Mind gives, and man receives, without the slightest excess or lack. Mind acts, and causes man to act, in accordance with divine law. This law is constant; its operation is entirely free from exception or interruption. All these facts of actual being result from the nature of the infinite One; they result from the incessant, intelligent, and omnipotent action of divine Principle or Mind. In her Message to The Mother Church for 1901 (pp. 6, 7) Mrs. Eddy wrote: "Our departure from theological personality is, that God's personality must be as infinite as Mind is." "And does not this heavenly parent know and supply the differing needs of the individual mind even as the Scriptures declare He will?"

Earthly life, so called, appears to involve both continual and periodic lapses from the infinite order just stated. Indeed, this life often seems to consist mostly of such lapses, together with the consequent efforts of men and nations to avert or rectify them. From the beginning of modern times, economists and statesmen in all countries have given earnest and prolonged study to this lack of adequate and constant supply. Yet, notwithstanding the many advancements gained by mankind in other respects, comparatively little progress has been made toward removing this evil from human life. Now and then it has been increased, particularly by wars, and by the combined beliefs of many people that periods of industrial depression will recur. On the whole, therefore, it is evident that human thought must find and yield to a more fundamental and intelligent understanding of the different factors which are connected with the economic and social needs of mankind.

In this situation, Christian Science maintains that the lack of adequate and constant supply for all men is simply one phase of the problem presented by the seeming existence of evil, and that this problem can be handled and must be handled as part of the seeming conflict between good and evil—between infinity and its negative opposite. Not only complete and permanent relief, but individual and urgent relief, can be found and must be found in the comprehension and demonstration of the divine economy and the infinite order. The basic and effective facts to be comprehended and demonstrated are such as those which are stated in the first paragraph of this writing. Such facts are absolutely true, and they can be demonstrated in human experience; they can be demonstrated by mankind as a whole and by individuals for themselves or one for another.

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