Article March 28, 1936 Issue

Annulling the "bland denial of Truth"

HAROLD S. EAGLE

"MENTAL malpractice is a bland denial of Truth," states Mrs. Eddy in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 31). A dictionary defines "bland" as "affable in manner; suave." Animal magnetism, the term used to cover all the seeming operations of evil, often appears to operate through malpractice, as bland, but nevertheless erroneous, suggestion. For example, "a bland denial of Truth" would attempt to make the Christian Scientist believe that he does not understand Christian Science, that he is a failure, or that he is discouraged. To one who is earnestly striving to be good it may suggest that happiness can be found only in worldly pleasures and the gratification of false appetites. If heeded, the "bland denial of Truth" would destroy one's usefulness, but with alert resistance its purpose is defeated.

Paul exposed the machinations of error when he asserted, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." He also indicated that malpractice claims to operate through law. He wrote, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." But evil has no law by which it can operate, since the law of God, infinite good, is the only law governing man and the universe. Furthermore, evil is mindless, since God is the only Mind.

Man reflects Mind, and is governed by Mind's law. It is therefore man's prerogative to be self-governed. One with this knowledge can prove his dominion over every claim of evil, whether it seem to be malicious, ignorant, hidden, or obvious. Mrs. Eddy very definitely tells Christian Scientists to assert their dominion over evil's claim to power when she exhorts in the last paragraph of the chapter "Christian Science Practice," in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 442), "Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake." Alertness and awareness are qualities of divine Mind which belong to every man by reflection. These spiritual qualities detect the tares of malpractice and separate them from the wheat of right thinking. It is obvious that when one is made to forget or to neglect his duty in any direction he is not being a law to himself, but is allowing himself to come under the machinations of supposititious animal magnetism.

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Annulling the "bland denial of Truth"

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