The Emancipator

JEANNETTE A. EPPICH

Among acts of governmental procedure, perhaps none seems more impressive or more inspired than the Emancipation Proclamation which Abraham Lincoln issued to his country. The noble act, so bravely performed, enshrined Lincoln as a fearless defender of the cause of personal liberty. It showed him as a man whose appraisal of freedom and of humanity was great enough to enable the truth of which Christ Jesus spoke to shine through him. Had no other worth been attached to him as President, this proclamation alone would ennoble American history.

Following closely upon this event came the discovery of Christian Science by Mary Baker Eddy, a greater emancipator. The scientific interpretation of the Scriptures was given to the world by her, and it is being accepted as the logical explanation of Christ Jesus' teaching by a large part of humanity. Nothing slavish can hide from its light, nothing enslaving can escape its loosening power, nothing enslaved but its love and compassion can set free.

The courage of Mrs. Eddy was inspired by unselfishness and vision. She had an extraordinarily high sense of God-given freedom freedom and recognized God as the emancipator.

Always has mankind needed emancipation. In every way, enslavement is the world's greatest foe. Through yielding to wrong desires, many find themselves in the bonds of slavery. Many accept slavery as a necessity, and others have not found the way out of bondage. To assume the worldly view of sensuous living keeps one enslaved. To accept sickness or sin as necessary is bondage indeed. But to know that "the power of God brings deliverance to the captive," as Mrs. Eddy states in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 224), is to conquer adversity with the emancipating knowledge of God which Christian Science has given to mankind.

Usually there is but one enslaving problem before us at a time, though at times there seem to be many. To be able to think clearly of God and of man as God's child will solve them all. To feel sure of God's power is to see goodness emancipating men from reliance upon material forms or functions. To accept this invincible power as the Father-Mother of all is to know that all men are in reality free and equal, and that true life is spiritual.

To those whose lives seem time-bound, the emancipating truth speaks of immortal living. To those whose bodies carry burdens of sickness, the emancipating truth speaks of wholeness and health. To the sin-filled and sorrowful ones this emanicpating truth of Christian Science speaks again the words of Jesus, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

To be at rest in the true sense of life as spiritual is to be emancipated. Through patient proclaiming of this doctrine of spiritually right thinking Christian Science is reclaiming those who are willing to receive its help and obey its rules.

Verily the Christian world may well pause and commemorate those whose nobility of purpose and purity of living have enriched it. It is becoming in all Christians to admit that those who believe and practice Christ Jesus' teachings have been the means of emancipating many from human woes. Such examples realize the ideal of the ancient prophets—that all mankind is one in fellowship and in freedom, and that God governs both men and nations.

Mary Baker Eddy, in her revelation of real being, included the idea of God's motherhood in her presentation of Deity. Through her unselfish work, the emancipating power of Christian Science expressed in Christ Jesus' words, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," is being perceived, and the "liberty of the children of God" manifested upon earth.

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