Article April 2, 1932 Issue

Pledges

LETTIE L. PARSON

Webster defines the word "pledge," in part, as a promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do something. Sacred and comprehensive are the pledges embodied in the last of the six Tenets of Christian Science, by Mary Baker Eddy, to which each one, on becoming a member of The Mother Church or of a branch church must subscribe. This Tenet reads as follows: "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 497; Church Manual, p. 16). What pledges these are! And the fulfilling of them meets our entire obligation to our fellow men. Renewal of and loyalty to them are the need of the times.

Opportunities for living up to these pledges are many, and present themselves hourly and continually in various ways, for the carnal mind is ever trying to tempt us to give credence to a power or creation apart from God, good. Keeping guard over our thinking; watching, and earnestly and unceasingly desiring to gain more understanding of that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus"—such praying is a glorious privilege, of which Christian Science requires its followers to avail themselves, bringing forth the fruits of right thinking, manifested in doing unto others as we would wish them to do unto us.

The time preceding our business meetings in branch churches provides wonderful seasons for the renewing of these pledges. The patience, justice, mercy, purity, long-suffering, tender consideration—yea, the real love—expressed toward our brother and his views in these meetings, as well as in the constant everyday demands upon us to see man only as the image and likeness of God, free from sickness, sin, criticism, lack, or condemnation, are the test of our loyalty to these pledges.

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