Moderation

BY S. ACENIA PRICE.

"Moderation is the silken chain that runs through all our virtues."

In "Miscellaneous Writings," our Leader says that "Wisdom in human action begins with what is nearest right under the circumstances, and thence achieves the absolute."

This article is designed to be a plea in behalf of lovers of art and nature. Wearied of a theology which teaches a revengeful God who tortures his children with eternal punishment for transgressing laws which are too contradictory to be obeyed, many weary searchers for truth turn their gaze toward the beautiful, as seen in art and nature. In "sylvan shades" and "peaceful solitudes" the struggling heart finds momentary rest. The artist seeks a realization of form, tone, and color. These are searchers for the perfect principle of things. Let us not hastily rebuke their sense of harmony.

Preceding my knowledge of Christian Science, my highest idea of harmony was that which was manifest of the senses material. I did not worship this sense of harmony, but it was a promise which made me long for the better reality. Contempt for the beauties as manifest in nature, was to me barbarism, lack of intelligence.

If I had read the article in "Miscellaneous Writings," p. 86, in answer to the question, "Is it correct to say of material objects that they are nothing and exist only in imagination?" I might have been saved the misunderstanding which resulted from my first impression of Christian Science. I thought all the beautiful and perfect things of life were being taken away to be replaced with I knew not what.

Jesus said that he came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil. He came to interpret the better Original of life's beauty and harmony. In "Miscellaneous Writings," p. 72, the paragraph answering "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things," explains this state of thought.

To say of the laws of art that have been established for ages that they are "nothingness," and to condemn the artist for his "materiality," while we are yet "babes in the Truth," some still struggling with physical diseases, is to go beyond our present understanding and like Peter, our impetuosity will be rebuked.

There have been radicals and extremists in every age who, however, have not proven their ability to rise superior to life's imperfections. Our Master knew letters, having never learned, but he was sufficient for these things.

The understanding of life's sweeter harmonies makes our work less laborious, but let us not try to dispose of the laws of art until we have fulfilled the intermediate steps, then we shall find that these laws are not destroyed but fulfilled.

Progress in Christian Science, as in anything else, demands order and peace, and let us not seek to climb the hill some other way.

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