Editorial October 24, 1942 Issue

Nobility

Evelyn F. Heywood

To express nobility in their lives, not merely in supreme crises but consistently in small matters and in great, men must be inspired and directed of Principle.

On page 294 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy writes, "The noblest work of God is man." When we study the Gospels we learn of the unfailing nobility expressed by Christ Jesus in the presence of his enemies and his friends, in moments of great danger, and in silent prayer; in the fearless facing of his enemies and the gentle rebuking of his disciples. We see why this was so. In speech, in action, he identified himself with "the noblest work of God."

Primary in the expression of nobility is unselfed love. Yet other ingredients besides unselfed love are requisite. There must be mercy without weakness and justice without harshness. With graciousness and poise, each one must recognize the greatness and yet the simplicity of his status as the representative of Mind. How solemn is this call to represent Mind! Solemn and yet glorious to know that the ideal man has been revealed in a world of selfishness and tyranny, of cowardice and indecision. "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building," Paul wrote to the Corinthians. He who reminds himself continually of the fact of divine sonship is lifted forever out of the realm of personal responsibility and personal authorship. Self-interest and self-preservation find no place in the thought of him who in the nobility of universal service reflects the husbandry and building of God. Ignoble and mean has been the status relegated to mortal man—discredited, handicapped, victimized, at the mercy of his own temperament, or those of others, liable to disease, disruption, disaster, knowing little or nothing of the work of God, because ever engaged in the uncertain ephemeral work of men. His indeed has been a sorry workmanship!

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