Editorial April 1, 1944 Issue

Were You There?

John Randall Dunn

Many are familiar with the words of a tender Negro spiritual, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" Unquestionably, the import of this plaintive song is to bring home a heart-searching message. The tragedy on Calvary was not the only attempted crucifixion of truth in mortal history. Have we ever been "there," have we ever stood by unprotestingly at some would-be crucifixion—at some attempt of the carnal mind to ridicule, revile, or nullify Truth, good, or Principle?

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 54) Mary Baker Eddy, that inspired nineteenth-century follower of Christ Jesus, puts the question thus: "If that Godlike and glorified man were physically on earth to-day, would not some, who now profess to love him, reject him?" Then she adds a little farther on: "Perhaps the early Christian era did Jesus no more injustice than the later centuries have bestowed upon the healing Christ and spiritual idea of being. Now that the gospel of healing is again preached by the wayside, does not the pulpit sometimes scorn it?"

Now many earnest Christian folk will admit that they have been there when error would crucify their Lord; but, say they, what good is accomplished by protesting? May not this but add fuel to the unlovely flames? If the protest be only audible, possibly yes; but who can measure the power of a silent but mighty protest of Truth? Writes Mrs. Eddy (ibid., p. 452): "When error confronts you, withhold not the rebuke or the explanation which destroys error. Never breathe an immoral atmosphere, unless in the attempt to purify it." Therefore, if thought is not ready for the audible explanation which will bring about error's destruction, let us be doubly certain that mentally we send forth a powerful rebuke and denial which cannot fail to contribute in large measure to the overthrow of evil.

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