Article April 27, 1935 Issue

Government through Light

DAISETTE D. S. MC KENZIE

As friends who are Christian Scientists were driving through the country, the glory of the setting sun was pouring through the many colored autumn tints of the foliage, lighting up the sparkling surface of the river and bringing out the delicate hues of wild aster and goldenrod. The clouds in fleecy clusters flung back the sun's bountiful rays, flooding the whole scene with loveliness. As people walked along the streets their faces turned toward the wonderful light, and happiness shone from their eyes. It seemed inevitable that each heart should be enlightened by such display of beauty and majesty.

As our hearts turned to the spiritual promise of this beauty, someone quoted from Science and Health (p. 595) the definition of "sun": "The symbol of Soul governing man,—of Truth, Life, and Love." "How beautiful," said one of the party, "and may not that government be symbolized by the government of the sun in its nature and operation as well as in its being?" The light of the sun in nature seems to govern simply by shining and by bestowing blessings of joy and comfort. It produces effects by invitation rather than domination, and solicits all nature to springtime renewal and unfolding beauty. Our Leader speaks of the sunlight which "glances into the prison-cell, glides into the sick-chamber, brightens the flower, beautifies the landscape, blesses the earth" (ibid., p. 516). Its effect is to purify, warm, and freshen. The mildew, gloom, and dampness of a long-closed house yield to the warming rays of light, and the house becomes habitable. A garment yellowed by time and confinement in darkness when brought into the sunlight becomes pure and white. The chill of melancholy thought or hopelessness may be removed and the heart cheered by the beauty of a scene such as these friends were witnessing, for it could not fail to point to reality and to tell of omnipresent goodness awaiting all.

Our Master indicated that the government of God was the only one to be used by his disciples. He decried the use of personal lordship over any, and said to the disciples, "Ye are the light of the world." Mrs. Eddy gives the same injunction to Christian Scientists, and she also gives in her writings the rule for proving the supremacy of God's government. The symbol of a candle set upon a candlestick carries the same beautiful lesson as the sunset. The candle has only one responsibility, and that is to shine. As Jesus said, "It giveth light unto all that are in the house." The one desiring in his heart to do his best for God and his fellow men may often feel that he is not doing enough, or blame himself because he does not reach this or that person with his light. He does not see, perhaps, that his one obligation is to gain a dearer, warmer, and more glowing sense of spiritual light, the light of Love and Truth, God. The candle does not direct the rays to one particular person, nor trouble because its rays do not extend farther than it has power to shine; nor is it obliged to turn a corner to reach some darkened one. The promise of the Master is that it shall be a light to all "in the house," that is, to all who come near enough to it to feel its comfort.

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