Editorial November 2, 1940 Issue

Overconfidence and Apathy

GEORGE SHAW COOK

On pages 280 and 281 of her "Miscellaneous Writings," Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says, "The doors of animal magnetism open wide for the entrance of error, sometimes just at the moment when you are ready to enter on the fruition of your labors, and with laudable ambition are about to chant hymns of victory for triumphs." This warning to her students may have been intended by Mrs. Eddy to apply primarily to the healing of sickness through Christian Science, but it is capable of a much wider application. It can well be applied to any problem by which the student of Christian Science is confronted in his daily experience.

In the working out of problems concerning business and family affairs, church government, and so forth, it is most necessary not to be deceived into believing that a demonstration has been made until it is fully proved to be so. Even in matters pertaining to human government, the individual's responsibility for doing his part to bring about a right solution does not cease until the question involved has been finally settled.

Citizens of a state or country where important elections are being held should not allow themselves to be lulled into apathy by overconfidence in the outcome. Regardless of which candidate an individual may favor, his full duty has not been performed until he has cast his vote for the candidate of his choice. It is not, therefore, sufficient to read or listen to campaign speeches and decide which person one desires to see elected. However, it is right and necessary that the individual's preference should be expressed through his ballot. Animal magnetism should not be allowed to prevent him from doing his full duty as a citizen.

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