Helping our Brethren

W. F. BECKERT.

Now that Christian Scientists from over the world have again had the great pleasure and privilege of attending the services and meetings in Boston during the Communion season, what have they gathered from them? To me, the lesson that stands out pre-eminent is the need and assurence of even greater unity among the brethren. The whole trend of thought pointed in one direction, greater love for one another,—and success in this makes unity possible.

What, then, must we do? It is an easy matter to enjoin upon our fellow-men to be good, just, honest, upright, and pure. But of what value are these injunctions unless we give them some rule by which they can carry them out?

John says: "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" This implies that love for our fellow-men must precede our love for God; and right here is a strong point in Christian Science which inculcates the necessity on our part of seeing our brother in God's image and likeness.

How can this be attained? We may begin by telling the truth about our brother, and we shall find that as we increase our efforts in this direction, we shall be able to see more good qualities than ever before. Is he honest? Is he upright? Is he kind? Is he unselfish? Does he ever make a sacrifice for the good of others?

There are men addicted to the liquor habit who have so many excellent characteristics that, but for their one weakness, they could be considered all right. Then why not dwell upon their strong points instead of the weak one? Why not love their good qualities and be patient until the wicked motives which are at the bottom of the wrong-doing are destroyed? We do not have to love our false concept of another, for this must be changed for the true likeness. If we dwelt less upon the vices of others,—their evil or negative qualities,—and emphasized their virtues,—their good or positive qualities,—we should find it easier to "Love one another."

We can go more than half way in loving our brother. He has his part to do; he has his own responsibility and we cannot do his work. But we can lighten his load if we will "wait patiently on the Lord," and let Him transform the heart and destroy the evil tendencies. Faultfinding with the shortcomings of those about us does not help them to be better, nor does it increase our spirituality. —our ability to help them. Commendation for work well done, rather than condemnation for work poorly done or left undone, strengthens one's desire to do better. We should recognize that every one is imbued in a greater or less degree with a desire to do right.

Let us strive more and more to live in harmony with the suggestions here outlined; let us assume that the motives governing the acts of our brethren are good and unselfish, not sinister and unworthy, and we shall have a wonderful increase in the unity in our homes and in our churches.

Then will come to earth what every Christian Scientist should pray for daily, a repetition of the Day of Pentecost, when, according to the Biblical record, the disciples "were all with one accord in one place."

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