Article June 1, 1935 Issue

Good Neighbors

WILLIAM P. MC KENZIE

In proverbial wisdom it was said, "He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth," and from the standpoint of experience of good neighbors, "Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off." The conclusion is, "He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace."

The era of castles has gone by. We see their ruins now, with remains of bastions and crenelated towers, and deep amid fallen stone and rubble the "pit," in the chill and darkness of which prisoners used to languish. Once, dwellings had to be walled and fortified, but now people may live in glass houses, and lawns are unwalled from the highway. Windowpanes and flowers are protected by general consent. So much have we gained in neighborliness and consideration of the rights of others that by a natural reciprocity our own right are respected.

Our Leader was able to look far into the future and see a comity of nations, after individuals had learned the lessons of Christian Science. She rested on prayer the welfare of humanity; and even as Jesus answered the need of his disciples when they said, "Teach us to pray," she in this age made clear to her followers the way in which mankind could be transformed and healed. Here is her definition of the right mode of praying (No and Yes, p. 39): "True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection." In a praying family there will be kindly behavior and courtesy. In a praying church there will be civility, respect, and amity. Among peoples the habit of prayer will lead to urbanity, graciousness, and the comity of nations. Humility will ease situations wherein the pride of superiority incites exasperation.

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