Mower County transcript., 1904-12-21

ever present thought of Life would
drive away all fear Of death; the
knowledge of Truth would dispel all
doubt and suspicion and Love would
cast its glow of joy and it's glory Of
happiness over all men and over the
whole universe. 80 .,
My friends, let us see whether it is
not true that while we have been plan
ming and contriving, to establish the
brotherhood of man by material
means, los and behold, it is already
here in spirit. Let us see whether we
may not work together to bring outthe
manifestation, the realization Of this
brotherhood by remembering the in
functions and promises of Christ. .-.
THE. BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.
!; Christian Science not only provides
a way Of reformation for the sinner
and a cure for the sick, but it supplies
a key which must eventually be applied
to all social, political and economic re-
forms as we'll. It is destined to become
the right hand of the reformer by PROV
ing. to him that the way to help to re-
form others is first to learn to reform
himself. Christian Science is estab-
fishing the understanding that what
helps one helps all.
1t may be that we sometimes forget
to recognize how greatly we depend
upon harmonious cooperation even for
our commonest needs.
Imagine for a moment the diversity
OF activities involved even in single
one of the many industries. Take the
simplest. possible illustration, the pro-
ducing of a loaf of bread. Consider
what that means in the way Of co op-
GRAFTON. There is the tilling of the
soil; the making of the plow; the gath
ering Of the harvest; the milling of the
wheat; the transportation of the
wheat, with all the accessories thatthe
word Transportation" implies in the
way of rails, road-bed, cars. etc.; con-
slider the bakery; the supplying Of the
finished loaf, until it reaches the table
Of the consumer. There is Represented
to us, in SO simple matter as the
production of loaf of bread, amarvel
Gus co operation, most OF which is I'M
conscious on the part of the partici-
pants. 1t is not likely that the final
consumer will ever meet the original
tiller. of the soil or any Of the vast
number Of producers who have con.
tributed to the placing that loaf on
his table. Yet each, acting according
to his best understanding, has labored
for the given end, and has thus proved
that what, helps one helps ali: -
In the mental realm, in Christian
metaphysics, the same holds good.
Unknown to one another, we help each
other by laboring to keep our own
thoughts clear, our hearts tender, our
sympathies sweet. Without necessari-
W coming into personal contact. we
thus. contribute to create better state
Of consciousness and purere tone in
public opinion and to express, in a
measure, the brotherhood Of man.
It is evident that before the brother
hood of man. can be established in Or
ganization and the constructive work
Of society be placed upon that basis,
this brotherhood itself should be prop
erly understood. Mind precedes mat
ter. A mental concept must first be
formed before material action can
take place. =.
Suppose desire to build house:
my first step is to go ito an architect
and have him draw upfplans; he forms
a mental concept of the house, modi-
fed by my wishes in regard to the mat
ter and this mental concept is the idea
which will presently blossom forth into
a plan. The architect then takes his
plan to a builder and soon we find a
house of wood and stone erected on the
desired site. Suppose ten years to go
by and the house to be torn down to
make room for city improvements;
still the idea or plan of the house is
not affected thereby, but lives on as a
mental concept, capable Of being re
produced materially at the will or wish
OF the architect. The vital part of the
house then, is it's idea. In consider
ing this subject of the brotherhood of
man, it is essential and indispensable
to arrive, first of all, at proper under
standing of the idea for which it
stands. This idea having been estab.
lished, the application of it will un.
fold itself as the>need arises. -
|. Mrs. Eddy has stated in her great
work Science and Health With Key
to the Scriptures" (p. 340): Zone in
finite Cos, Good, unifes men and na-
tions constitutes the brotherhood of
man; ends wars, fulhlls the Scripture,
Love thy neighbor as thyself."
Since man is spiritual, the brother
hood Of man must be a spiritual fact.
Whatever material contrivances, so
cieties, or cooperative plans mankind
may formulate and establish to carry
out the idea of the brotherhood Of
man, the kernel and essential fact Of
the situation is that this brotherhood
of man is, in its nature, spiritual.
! 1t is of little avail to attempt to es-
tablish the appearance of brotherhood
and fraternal relations on any suppos.
ed material, basis, until the spiritual
fact has first been clearly established
in the minds Of men. If some benevo-
lent despot, ,arrayed > with unlimited
power over over the material affairs
Of mankind commanding unlimited
means, controlling all avenues of traf-
fic and transportation, all deposits of
wealth, directing all legislation and all
administration Of law, should, by the
utmost exertion, finally accomplish
/ the herculean task of establishing q
system of. government which would
or q rantea tO all mankind anua1 rights