Editorial September 19, 1936 Issue

Innocency

George Shaw Cook

The Psalmist sang, "I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine alter, O Lord." A dictionary definition of "innocence" is, "Purity of heart; blamelessness; guilelessness;" and some of the synonyms of innocence given by Webster are, "harmlessness; sinlessness; guiltlessness." Purity of heart means, of course, purity of thought. The Scriptural writers often used the word "heart" in that sense. The word "purity" is defined as "cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt. ... Innocence; chastity." These qualities of thought inhere in pure Mind and are at all times reflected by spiritual man, who is the exact likeness or expression of Mind. Therefore, speaking absolutely, man is already and always innocent, pure, sinless.

Even humanly speaking, one whose thought is free from foulness of every kind, whose thinking expresses purity, innocence, chastity, guilelessness, is greatly to be admired, and is one whose example should be emulated. These much-to-be-desired qualities of thought are generally recognized as being characteristic of childhood; and that Jesus regarded them as desirable is plainly evident, for he said at one time, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

The reason given by Mary Baker Eddy for the Master's love of little children was their "freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 236). That she herself partook of the same love of little ones is indicated by her words, found on page 110 of "Miscellaneous Writings," where she says: "Beloved children, the world has need of you,—and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives. You need also to watch, and pray that you preserve these virtues unstained, and lose them not through contact with the world."

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