Article March 17, 1934 Issue

Manhood

ALBERT F. ENGEL

"A Knowledge of evil was never the essence of divinity or manhood." So writes Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 537). The manhood aspired to by most men is not in the main allied to divinity, because it is largely allied to the hypotheses underlying physical education and training. Human knowledge is vague and conjectural. Hence, spirituality and true manhood are seldom conjoined in human thought or experience until, through the study of Christian Science, spiritual regeneration begins in human consciousness. A higher ideal and a clearer sense of true individuality forward acceptance of the scientific truth that the real man is the image or likeness of God, forever spiritual, not depending upon nor issuing from matter. Human birth, growth, and experience involve "a knowledge of evil," based on the theory that life is in matter and that matter has creative power.

The Scriptures record that the patriarch Samuel, in obedience to God's command, visited Jesse in Bethlehem, to appoint one of his sons king of Israel. When Eliab, the eldest son, appeared before him, Samuel was for a moment tempted to believe that he was the chosen one. This is evident from the fact that "the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." Seven sons of Jesse passed before Samuel, but he accepted none of them to be anointed as king. When, however, David, the youngest son, was brought to him, Samuel knew by spiritual intuition that his mission had been accomplished; and the voice of Truth within him said, "Arise, anoint him: for this is he."

No material investiture caused or governed the spiritual choosing of David; and it is noteworthy that the same divine law which triumphed through the enlightened thought of Samuel may today be brought into operation in individual consciousness through the understanding of Christian Science. In this Science, true manhood is determined solely by the divine qualities which eternally accompany a spiritual understanding of God as the only Life. In proportion as mankind awakens—that is, in the degree that the new spiritual birth is manifested through the intelligent utilization of such qualities as goodness, purity, humility, and love—will the all-inclusiveness of God be demonstrated. Thus is the essence of true spiritual manhood recognized.

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