Rumor

ELIZABETH YATES MC GREAL

The word "rumor" has several meanings, but as we use it today its most common meaning is, according to Webster, "a story or report current without any known authority for its truth."

Idle talk about individuals originates in the so-called human mind. If some undesirable report reaches our ears about a friend, a well-known worker in the movement, or even the slightest of acquaintances, it is a wise plan to test it by tracing its origin. From whence did it come? Mind's messages are known by their strength, by their purity, and by the great fact that blessing one they bless all. Correspondingly, the integrity of individual thinking should be such that those reports which bear not the stamp of Mind are recognized and destroyed. Question a vague rumor and you will find that it has no source. "They say so ... Someone told me ..." will be the diverting answers proving the rumor's baseless and subtly deceptive formation from the elements of mortal mind. Baseless rumors receive no credence, and have no place in the thought of Christian Scientists who live and speak the truth.

All that concerns another's good—progress, activity, happiness—may safely pass from lip to lip as a tiding of great joy. But that which carries a shade of doubt, a tinge of curiosity, the wraith of malice, must meet the demand: "Are you from God? Do you bear news of good? Listening to you, will I harm no one? Publishing, will I bless all? ... No! Then you have no entry here." The vigilant mental householder excludes rumor from his thought and conversation. A true Christian Scientist will not knowingly speak for mortal mind; neither will he knowingly relay idle rumors, for by so doing he might be spreading something unfounded and spurious. There is need for protective work along these lines—work by which we may know the validity of the words we pass on to each other, and by which we may know our complete exclusion from rumor's attempted inclusion. As individual ideas of the one immortal Mind we can assert our dominion over the lies of mortal mind.

Our Leader writes (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 266, 267): "The spirit of lies is abroad. Because Truth has spoken aloud, error, running to and fro in the earth, is screaming, to make itself heard above Truth's voice. The audible and inaudible wail of evil never harms Scientists, steadfast in their consciousness of the nothingness of wrong and the supremacy of right." As God's we will not bear false witness to one another, but rather utter Truth and silence forever rumor's foolish sound.

Being dwellers in the consciousness of Love, we shall guard well our mental homes, demanding credentials from the thoughts that at times knock upon our doors. Then, no more rumors will pass our portals, no matter how attractive, intriguing, or beguiling their disguise. "They shall not pass," is still the battle cry to all rumors.

"The lip of truth shall be established for ever"—this is the heritage of the sons and daughters of Mind.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Divine Concepts versus Sense Impressions

December 28, 1935

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit