There is Hope for All

John B. Willis

It is a pitiful thing to be sick even when there is promise of speedy recovery, but when conventional authority has rendered its decision, and the solemn sentence of "Incurability" has been pronounced, then indeed does mortal experience become a tragedy whose presiding genius is despair. Upon those thus condemned, however, a great light hath shined in our day. The hopeless pessimism of the well-nigh universal thought respecting them, is being replaced by that glad assurance and expectation of their freedom and joy which Christian Science brings as the benediction of heaven.

When we remember that a large proportion of the incurable are being tortured from their childhood in punishment for offences which they have not committed, and that they have been taught to accept their fate and patiently endure their suffering, by those whom Jesus has commanded to heal; and when we know that numbers of these unfortunates have been set free through Christian Science, and therefore that others now in shackles might be freed, but for the ignorance or prejudice which forbids, — then the awryness of mortal sense and man-made theology begins to appear in its true proportions, and we are stirred both by a mighty protest against false belief and a mighty longing to save its unfortunate victims.

Happily the hearts of men have ever been more logical than their heads, and human sympathy has hastened to succor those whom human belief has beaten and enslaved; nevertheless, individual and organized expressions of a humanitarian spirit have been found wholly incapable of remedying the wrong, and their very multiplicity has served to intensify the mortal sense of the vast sadness of the situation, and render doubly dark the prospect of its indefinite continuance. In bringing something of light and cheer to the darkened chambers of many a "shut-in" life, human sympathy has expressed a sincere interest and a worthy motive, and, therefore, the expectation was entirely legitimate that every lover of men would rejoice in the unquestionable proofs which Christian Science has brought, that there is health and happiness for those who hitherto have all their lifetime been subject to bondage; and human history has never presented a more surprising and incongruous spectacle than that witnessed to-day, when many professed Christians unite in decrying and resisting a faith which in Christ's name questions the asserted incurability of disease, and which would bring to otherwise hopeless invalids the realization of that freedom for which they are praying in tearful agony.

This asserted offence Christian Science can "neither palliate nor deny." At the moment when in the world's great arena the victim of false belief had fallen to his knees, and his appeal to the crowded galleries was met with the doom-sealing answer "To the death,"—then came this messenger of Truth and Love to deny the authority of humanity's fateful verdict, and to shield the bleeding sufferer from the final stroke of a relentless mortal law.

In the name of Truth and justice, and in the spirit of brotherly love, a great company of Christian Scientists are to-day waging a heroic struggle for the rescue of those who are now remitted to the bondage of so-called irremediable disease. They honor, as eternal truth, the declaration of Scripture that justice and judgment are the habitation of God's throne, that mercy and truth ever go before his face, and they consequently declare that no injustice or wrong can be attributed to Him. They accept with humble and dutiful purpose all the responsibilities and privileges which Christ Jesus conferred upon his every true follower, and they must, therefore, continue to voice their appeal to humanity's nobler sense in behalf of those who at so many firesides are denied even the expression of a hope that as of yore Truth may bring them its blessed freedom. They remember with gratitude the splendid daring and unfaltering zeal of their Leader, who for long years "fought a good fight" for "incurables," single-handed and alone, and they rejoice in the strength and beauty of the song which in all the world to-day is rising from lips that were erst-while sad and silent,—a song which is ever multiplying the comforting ministries of Christian Science to mankind.

John B. Willis.

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True Helpfulness

November 11, 1905

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