CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1937, Page 20

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

"SCIENCE OF GOVERNMENT"

■A lecture on "Christian Science: The Science of Government" was given in the Town Hall last evening by Mr. Gavin W. Allan, of Toronto. In the course of his address,' in which he declared that sound guidance to good government in all departments of life could be found in Christian Science, Mr. Allan referred to the problem of the family,. the social. unit. The harmonious government of a family may frequently involve the facing of problems which might come but seldom to the solitary individual: problems of instruction, obedience, and continuous self-immolation. There is probably no other art that requires so much education, so much wisdom, and so much practice as the art of living justly and charitably with others. The larger the household, the greater the number of mentalities through which self may endeavour to assert itself.

If these qualities were always recognised as impersonal errors they would deceive no one, and would have little opportunity to cause trouble, but if, on the other hand, we allow ourselves to personalise these evil tendencies, to admit that one member of the family is governed by this one, and another by that, and then because of this ■ permit ourselves to deal unfairly with, or dislike the. person, we shall allow evil to gain a foothold which may not be quickly dislodged. The interest of the individual should extend to an even wider circle—the nation. There government is all too frequently influenced by politicians in their partisan activities. The art of government should be peculiarly the field of action of the Christian Scientist, for is he not learning that God albne governs, and that the Science which deals with God's government of man and .the universe is the only science of government? When the inhabitants of a country are completely subject to God's ' government, their politics will be scientific. .'An enlightened ■ citizenship is the need of the hour. Individual liberties are under constant and subtle attack, and alertness is required to safeguard popular government, and civil and religious freedom. Autocracies may be superficially efficient. But efficiency is not the primary purpose of democracy. If the primary social purpose were efficiency, that is to get things done and done quickly, one of the best methods would be to r hire a good tyrant and set him to work. One difficulty might be, of -course, to find a good tyrant. But democracy's primary purpose is not efficiency. It is enlightenment, education. It is to so educate each individual that he may be fitted to assume intelligently his share of the responsibility for good government. The State .was made by men for men. Men were not made for the State. Each individual within the State has a right to choose his calling, and to change it; the right to constructively criticise the government, and to change it if necessary. Democracy is based upon an equality of rights: the right of individual communion with God; the right to reflect divine intelligence and activity; and not the right only, but also the inherent ability and capability of man to reflect God's good government.