Disarmament

[Written Especially for Young People]

HARRIET BROSSIN

A young student in a college had much difficulty in getting a good mark, in spite of many hours of persistent study. Most of the time he was lagging at the end of the class. Careful examination of his thoughts disclosed to him that his difficulties were caused by the belief in the necessity of strife and by fear of competition. The notion that some of the teachers were opposed to his advancement had to be overcome. When he understood that he himself and all his teachers, as well as his classmates, were in their real identity the expressions of one Mind, divine Love, the young man began to have much happier experiences. He saw that he did not have to strive against any malice or lack of sympathy in his teachers, but needed to cooperate with them in acquiring the knowledge which was lovingly imparted to all.

The worship of material force and the fear of it, such as this student measurably felt, have always been at the bottom of armaments; and so it is still. Belief in the necessity of armed protection is the result of the theory of the necessity of competition between individuals and nations. This is accompanied by thoughts of strife, fear of the loss of some material possession, and of lack, if there should not be enough for all.

Christian Science explains away, as unreal, both the possibility of lack and the necessity of strife. Through the study of this Science we begin to learn that we have an inexhaustible supply, an abundance of spiritual riches and intelligence. Their source can never be depleted, because it is infinite good, God. The understanding of this marvelous revelation of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, precludes the necessity of strife, and hence of competition. To destroy these beliefs nationally we must start by destroying them in our individual consciousness and in our everyday life.

In the young student's experience the feelings of envy, jealousy, and criticism had to be eradicated. It was shown to him that he labored under the prejudice that most of his classmates occupied a prominent position to which they were not entitled. When he understood that he was not to think of there being a limited number of positions in his class, but to know that there was a wealth of knowledge like an open fount, pouring forth for all, he quickly began to get the good marks he so much desired. Loving consideration for all our associates, no matter where we are, at school, in an office, in business, opens up unsuspected possibilities.

The young student's quick progress toward the top of the class was the result of his understanding of Christian Science and his earnest endeavor to apply what he understood to his daily activity. He saw that the precepts he studied had to be lived. Freedom from the belief of strife brings an abundance of joy and ability to achieve efficiency.

"Let us, then, be up and doing"—right now. With alertness to our duty as Christian Scientists let us carefully detect any trace of these erroneous beliefs, which can only hamper our activity, and replace in our consciousness all thoughts of strife and competition with love, consideration, helpfulness, and service to others.

Can that help disarmament? may be asked somewhat dubiously. Yes, it can. We learn thus to cooperate with divine Love, and by this cooperation we increase the evidences of divine Love in human experience. Thus the mist of false belief in the necessity of contention is being cleared away. And this is the best protection. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 279) Mrs. Eddy says, "Had all peoples one Mind, peace would reign."

The arms we need are "the breastplate of righteousness," of right, loving thoughts, the light of divine Science, which shows the nothingness of error. We need the buckler of individual obedience to Truth, which establishes the bond of unity between men; we must be "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." Cooperation versus competition must be the motto on our banner. Mrs. Eddy says on page 571 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinitv."

Loving cooperation between nations annuls belief in the necessity of strife, hence of armaments. Loving thoughts in the daily round of our life lead the way to complete disarmament. Loving cooperation between all Christian Scientists prepares the way for loving cooperation between groups of individuals and thus, eventually, between all nations of the earth.

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