Article September 15, 1951 Issue

DAILY DEFENSE

MADORA HOLT

It is the Christian Scientist's joyous privilege, as well as his solemn duty, to obey, and to be protected by, the Rules and By-Laws of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. One of these, entitled "Alertness to Duty," reads (Art. VIII, Sect. 6): "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned."

The demand, then, is for defense, not casual or occasional, not after danger looms or its impact is felt, but systematic daily defense against error. The sequence of obligation is important. Our first duty is to God, our second to our Leader, and our third to mankind. As this order is preserved, the unassailable security of true health, happiness, and useful activity is experienced.

What is aggressive mental suggestion? As understood in Christian Science, it is anything which claims or insinuates that there is a power other than God, good. Then we must daily acknowledge man's immunity from such trespassers as self-depreciation or self-importance, because God alone is creator and to God alone belongs all glory. We are obligated to refuse hospitality to silent whispers of mortal mind, inducing on the one hand indifference or apathy and on the other a personal sense of responsibility or self-righteousness. Each day we should be specific in knowing that no evil, even as veiled innuendoes stimulating small and apparently trifling resentments and vanity, can sully thought or invade man's God-likeness. Aggressive mental suggestion would sometimes roar like a lion, spreading terror and scattering effort; but more often it comes so soundlessly that we need to defend ourselves from imputing its messages to the impulse of our own heart.

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