Article August 5, 1939 Issue

"Right makes might"

GEORGE H. READ

Throughout the world today there is still a much too prevalent belief that might makes right. We read of large nations imposing their demands upon smaller ones; of high officials dismissing those associates and subordinates who would oppose or prevent the onward march of selfishness, greed, and mad ambition. Big business interests are frequently accused of taking unfair advantage of smaller enterprises. Capital and labor seem to be in more or less constant conflict, with the advantages often apparently favoring the group which at the moment has what is called the "whip hand." Business firms, school systems, social organizations, and so forth, sometimes seem to be much at the mercy of arbitrary administrators. Even otherwise happy families seem to be subjected at times to the attempted domination of some willful member within them.

In the face of the testimony that is being so frequently and persistently placed before us to the effect that might makes right, we may find comfort and encouragement in the words of Abraham Lincoln, "Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us dare to do our duty as we understand it." This statement that "right makes might" is in thorough accord with the basic teachings of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. In the chapter entitled, "Science of Being," in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says (p. 275), "The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind,—that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle." Thus since God, good, is the only might or power, and the only Mind or intelligence, there can be no evil power or evil mind. The knowledge or understanding of the almightiness or all-powerfulness of God, good, and the utter powerlessness of evil, and the doing of one's duty in the light of that understanding, not only protect one from evil's claims, but also contribute to the nullification of the so-called forces of evil, even of those which now seem rampant throughout the world.

The contention that might makes right is merely an attempted reversal of the truth that "right makes might." And evil of any kind, or in any state, is but a false claim or reversal of some aspect of Truth. But the loud and positive ways in which evil's claims are frequently made, and the fearful manner in which those claims are sometimes accepted by those whose subservience is sought, give to evil the only semblance of power it can have. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 491): "Material man is made up of involuntary and voluntary error, of a negative right and a positive wrong, the latter calling itself right. Man's spiritual individuality is never wrong. It is the likeness of man's Maker."

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