Article September 13, 1919 Issue

Righteous Judgment

MAUDE J. SULLIVAN

No form of mortal thought, perhaps, is so common as that of unjust judgment. Generally understood, human judgment has come to mean the formation and expression of human opinion regarding the actions or condition of individuals and things. Mortal belief usually begins the day with a thought of judgment. It considers the weather: it is good or it is bad. It takes account of itself and pronounces judgment upon the individual: "I am well" or "I am ill." Mortal belief turns to other individuals and pronounces judgment upon them; and so throughout the day, in contact with persons and things, in every activity, there is human judgment, regardless of the Scriptural injunction found in the second chapter of Romans, where Paul says, in speaking of the evilly minded, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."

Jesus also, instructing his disciples, said: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Strong words these, and they bring to the earnest student of Christian Science a realization of the necessity for heeding the admonition contained in "A Rule for Motives and Acts," as given in Article VIII, Section I, of the Manual of The Mother Church: "The members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously."

In mortal thought, judgment precedes condemnation; therefore it behooves the Christian Scientist to be very watchful and prayerful that he "judge not according to the appearance," but in all ways "judge righteous judgment." Even the most cursory analysis of material conditions reveals the fact that the favorite weapon for the destruction of the popularity of any of the world's heroes is that of false criticism or mistaken judgment. There are many examples of this to-day. Following some wonderful deed of heroism or self-sacrifice, mortal mind places a man upon a pedestal as being a hero; he is suddenly exalted in the world's esteem, honors are thrust upon him, he is approved and applauded, his praises are sung the length and breadth of the land. For a time all appears to be well; then some belief of human selfishness—that seemingly ever present pivot of the human mind—brings the hero into juxtaposition with itself, compares him with itself, then sends forth its propaganda of envy, jealousy, and hatred, to find lodgment and gather to itself kindred beliefs, until finally there is the spectacle of the erstwhile hero being dragged from his pedestal, his every act and motive harshly considered and judged. Rare indeed is that man who can undergo without downfall the grilling of mortal mind when he is weighed in the scale of human will and opinion.

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