True Brotherhood

HELEN FRIEND ROBINSON

MRS. EDDY, our beloved Leader, says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 469, 470), "With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power which constitute divine Science." Surely every sincere student of Christian Science desires above all else to be guided by these inspired instructions. As the faithful student advances, eventually he becomes convinced of the fact that not only are his own daily problems being solved thereby, but that also the whole structure of civilization and progress is founded upon man's relation to his Maker and the true brotherhood of man; and he strives daily so to live and demonstrate these truths of being that humanity may glimpse the light of Truth which illumines his pathway.

Among the manifold instructions in the Scriptures which unerringly point the way to the recognition of our true selfhood in God, and the consequent relationship to our brother-man, we find Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, including at once the simplest as well as the most profound lesson for accomplishing this result. If we look for and understand the full import of our Master's words, we discover that this sermon is replete with precepts and rules for our guidance and protection. Here we find that notable statement which has been termed the Golden Rule: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

There is a question that all who call themselves Christian Scientists may well ask themselves every step of the way: If circumstances were reversed, would I really desire my brother to treat me as I have treated him? This is a severe test. But is it not the only criterion we should follow if we have an honest desire truly to love our brother and to accord to him the same rights and privileges which we claim for ourselves? In Christian Science, it is necessary to be honest with one's self; for thus only can we uncover and destroy the lurking evils of bigotry and self-righteousness, which otherwise might leave undreamed-of accumulations of evil in our thought, which if left unrebuked, might later prove too formidable to be overcome readily. Wherefore, should we not listen and watch vigilantly, that we yield not to the temptations which "so easily beset us"? It is much more simple to destroy error before than after it is committed.

As it is with the individual, so it is with our branch church membership. There is much opportunity for charity and kindness in all our church relations. We may sometimes differ in our sense of how certain problems should be solved; but surely we should strive faithfully to develop that highest type of true brotherhood for which our dear Leader sacrificed so much in establishing her church. There is room enough and work enough for all loyal members in the branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, and every such member is necessary to its various activities. Now, what constitutes loyalty in a branch church? By-laws vary considerably, but all will agree that loyalty carries with it the desire to follow and obey the Manual of The Mother Church in Boston.

Would it not be wise at this juncture prayerfully to ponder one other admonition in that masterpiece of Science, the Sermon on the Mount: "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"? Who of us is as yet sufficiently purified and advanced in our climp up the steep ascent of Christian Science to judge our brother righteously? May he not have a point of view quite unknown to us, which would make his act justifiable to himself? According to material law, even if he has committed every sin mentioned in the Decalogue, he is not thereby ostracized or condemned without a hearing; and how much more charitable and considerate we should be to our own church members! Kindness and consideration for others should predominate at all times and in all our church relationships, and we should heed and ponder well Mrs. Eddy's unfailing rule of conduct for every emergency (Science and Health, p. 542): "Let Truth uncover and destroy error in God's own way, and let human justice pattern the divine." And is there a better or more profitable way to meet our obligations to our brother-man? Again, is it wise or Christlike to keep harping on some error of the past, which should long since have been relegated to the mental scrap heap, for the sake of the true growth of our great Cause? Now is the appointed time to work for the redemption of all mankind; and surely we should not allow ourselves to become mesmerized by outside evil influences which ever gloatingly rejoice over factions in our ranks and try to render negligible our legitimate work

When we become unselfed in our love for our brother we can surely help him much more advantageously by leaving him free to forget "those things which are behind," so that he may be encouraged in his efforts to "press toward" and approximate the perfect man of God's creating. In the beautiful words of a hymn:

"Then, brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother!
For where love dwells, the peace of God is there:
To worship rightly is to love each other;
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer."

Copyright, 1927, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit