Editorial December 21, 1940 Issue

"His high morn"

EVELYN F. HEYWOOD

THE opportunity for retrospective analysis of great events in human history is regarded as a valuable inheritance. Thoughtful men and women everywhere contemplate the lessons of the past in judging and directing the events which are in process of formation in their own and their countries' destinies. Thus while anniversaries and celebrations belong to time, those things which they commemorate are joyous or sad as memory determines, but the lessons they teach and the inspiration and wisdom they impart belong to eternity.

The prophets of the Old Testament foresaw and foretold the coming of the Messiah, and in due time angels announced to shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night "a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." The incidents, exquisite in their promise, connected with the birth of Jesus, belong to human history; they are but the accompaniment of that Christ-message to the world, which is eternal. Mary Baker Eddy, on page 59 of "Unity of Good," reminds us that human events are no part of the spiritual continuity of being. Thus she writes. "Soul never saw the Saviour come and go."

The value of human experience, when considered solely from the standpoint of spiritual development, is to be seen in the great influence which Biblical history has had wherever it has touched the thoughts of men. It is very evident that the Scriptures played a large part in the life of Christ Jesus. He used them as the basis for much of his teaching, both in warning and in exhortation. But his deduction from them was always purely metaphysical. It is well to remember that no one ever made less of mortal environment, tradition, and parentage than did he. As far as we know, he never referred to his human birth, childhood, or family. He acknowledged no antecedent or history, but dwelt solely and persistently on the spiritual cause and origin of man. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me," he said to his disciples. And later: "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." In these brief statements is to be read the Master's autobiography. He demanded that men should think of him and know him, not as the babe born in a Bethlehem manger, not as the child who had grown to manhood in Galilee, but as him who came to bear witness to the eternal relationship of God and man. He was among them as the Son of man; for those who recognized his true selfhood, he was the Son of God.

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