Editorial February 6, 1937 Issue

Power, not Pressure

George Shaw Cook

In our daily human experience we become aware of many kinds of pressure which are exerted for one purpose or another. For example, there is the pressure of public opinion, itself often largely formed by the pressure of propaganda. Then there are group pressure and exective pressure, sometimes exerted to compel or to prevent legislation. There are also social pressure and financial pressure, and there is a kind of pressure called "high-pressure salesmanship."

Legislation passed because of the influence exerted upon legislators by "pressure groups," or because of political pressure, is sometimes found not to be wise or sound. Sales effected through high-pressure methods are seldom satisfactory to the buyer, and often react unfavorably upon the seller. Steps taken by individuals under political, social, financial, or the different forms of personal pressure often have unhappy results.

It is of interest to note that the word "pressure" is used only once in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, and that is where she says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 451), "Christian Scientists must live under the constant pressure of the apostolic command to come out from the material world and be separate."It will be recalled that this statement is based upon the words of the Apostle Paul, who, in his second epistle to the Corinthians, wrote in part as follows: "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord."

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