Editorial November 23, 1940 Issue

"Never record ages"

GEORGE SHAW COOK

There appear to be instances where, in order to comply with legal requirements and other man-made rules and regulations, it seems necessary to record ages. For example, one is asked to state his age when registering for the purpose of voting. In applying for a passport, an automobile driver's license, or an insurance policy, one is expected to give the date of one's birth.

However, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy says (p. 246), "Never record ages." And she continues, by way of explaining this somewhat startling statement: "Chronological data are no part of the vast forever. Time-tables of birth and death are so many conspiracies against manhood and womanhood. Except for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain his vigor, freshness, and promise."

Students of Christian Science may, at times, find it difficult strictly to comply with the admonition, "Never record ages," but they can at least avoid undue mention of age in ordinary conversation. Furthermore, they can help to free themselves and others from the depressing effect of counting time by years, by remembering that Mrs. Eddy says in her definition of "day" (ibid., p. 584), "The objects of time and sense disappear in the illumination of spiritual understanding, and Mind measures time according to the good that is unfolded." In reality, then, nothing is ever going on except the eternal unfoldment of God, infinite good, in right, true, spiritual ideas.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Prayer for Victory and Peace