It is the glory of Christian Science that it is equal to every human need. Our Leader's inspiring proclamation of the law that "one infinite God ... annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes" (Science and Health, p. 340), necessarily implies that Christian Scientists will more and more be called into the arena of public affairs, there to apply this law to social and political problems and to prove its all embracing scope. But as special preparation is essential to the successful prosecution of any important undertaking, so must there be preparation to engage effectively in social and political reform work. Even so slight a share in government as is involved in casting a ballot at election time, especially in communities which permit voters to pass judgment directly upon measures instead of upon men, cannot be creditably borne without thoughtful preparation.

The spiritual awakening which accompanies true healing quickens the sympathy of every Christian Scientist for right and justice in every field, and he lacks not, therefore, the willingness to support the right, though at every step he needs to know what makes for right and how to support it. There are organized movements of every conceivable sort, ranging from national political parties and international peace societies to local charity clubs, and it requires more than casual consideration on the individual's part, and a more trustworthy guidance than ordinary newspapers supply, to enable him to choose even the lesser of two evils.

What part, if any, the Scientists should take in helping to find the line of progress toward the ultimate realization of right and justice in collective affairs, is of course a question for each individual to decide for himself. But every earnest follower of Christ, Truth, will naturally desire to free himself from the bias of mere prejudice or of blind and unthinking partizanship. He will not be satisfied to hold rigid opinions without clear reasons to support them, and he will not wittingly favor or oppose measures or policies merely because his father did.

To be prejudiced is to prejudge; or, as the dictionary puts it, "to judge before hearing, or before full and sufficient examination." In clearing one's thought of prejudice respecting world problems we have an invaluable helper daily at hand,—The Christian Science Monitor. If this paper is faithfully read with an open mind, there will inevitably unfold a broader view. No one should take his opinions ready made from any source, not excepting the Monitor; but surely the Christian Scientist may rely upon it that convictions expressed in the editorial columns of this newspaper are carefully and honestly arrived at and so should be earnestly heeded. Heady, self-satisfied opinions upon public questions often hold their ground with us long after we have yielded up our human opinions upon questions of theology and have opened our minds to the sweet reasonableness of the spiritual interpretation of the Master's life and teachings. It is not uncommon, therefore, to find that significant articles and editorials in the Monitor pass under our eyes unheeded, if not unread, while we persist in adhering to archaic beliefs out of which these same articles and editorials would have instructed us had we read and earnestly applied them.

The preparation and assembling of reading matter for the Monitor, especially of articles bearing directly upon the important problems of international, social, and industrial relations and economic and political evolution, are undoubtedly recognized by those responsible for this work as a profoundly important trust, which they cannot possibly fulfil without constant and sincere prayer. It is not the mission of the Monitor to maintain a genial and inoffensive attitude toward human institutions, but its mission is, in the dedicatory words of our Leader, "to injure no man, but to bless all mankind" (Miscellany, p. 353); and it cannot bless mankind without penetrating the masks and false pretenses of evil in every direction, and pointing out the true line of action, however obscured by popular ignorance and prejudice.

Should not every Christian Scientist ask himself whether he truly recognizes the high mission of the Monitor as a guide in public questions? Should he continue to look for instruction in such important matters to the editorial and news columns of the organ of his political party, an organ so bound, it may be, by financial ties that it is not free to oppose a fact or an argument? Subject as it is to the exigencies of rapid news gathering and the cooperation of great numbers of persons in production, the Monitor may sometimes be mistaken either as to facts or conclusions, but if so, we know that it is honestly mistaken. We know that it is a free paper, for it is consciously placed under control of Principle. Knowing all this, do we give to its instructive columns the thoughtful and earnest attention they merit? If we do not, we are limiting our own progress.

It should be a reasonable practice for every Christian Scientist to test his opinions on public questions by comparing them with the views expressed in the Monitor editorials, and to test unverified alleged facts by comparison with the information he finds in its news columns and special articles. What have we accepted as the facts and what opinions do we hold, for instance, concerning the present world war and international arbitration, the land question, and tariff question, the suffrage question, the temperance question, and the labor question; or concerning such matters as commission government for cities, preferential voting, proportional representation, initiative, referendum, and recall, government ownership of railroads and public utilities, old age pensions, unemployment insurance, and numberless other debatable issues? Some of these questions have to do with matters that are fundamental, some with modes of expressing the popular judgment, and others with expedients for temporary relief. As to each of them there is the greatest confusion of opinion and information in the public press; but there should be no mystery about any of these, or about any other great questions, in the clear light of Christian Science,—and where may we expect this light to shine more clearly than in the intelligently and impartially edited columns of The Christian Science Monitor?

There can be no doubt but that the conscientious study of our Leader's writings, and also of the instructive articles daily appearing in the wholesome columns of the Monitor, will fit the followers of Christian Science the better to serve as instruments of the law of God in annihilating "whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes" (Science and Health, p. 340). Neither can there be any doubt but that our great Leader included social and political regeneration as within the present scope of Christian Science demonstration. Therefore this field cannot be safely overlooked or left to the well meaning but not fully enlightened efforts of those who have not yet shared with us the great blessing of divine guidance.