0.0 – Christian Science – 16 Books by Mary Baker Eddy – Bk 16 – The First Church of Christ Scientist and Miscellany – Chpt 15 – Peace and War

                  Chapter XV 

  	                      PEACE AND WAR 

1	                          [Boston Herald, March, 1898] 
      
                            OTHER WAYS THAN BY WAR

	
3	    In reply to your question, "Should difficulties between
  	the United States and Spain be settled peacefully by
  	statesmanship and diplomacy, in a way honorable and
 6	satisfactory to both nations?" I will say I can see no
  	other way of settling difficulties between individuals and
  	nations than by means of their wholesome tribunals,
 9	equitable laws, and sound, well-kept treaties. 
  	    A bullet in a man's heart never settles the question of
  	his  life. The mental animus goes on, and urges that the
12	answer to the sublime question as to man's life shall come
  	from God and that its adjustment shall be according to
  	His laws. The characters and lives of men determine the
15	peace, prosperity, and life of nations. Killing men is
  	not consonant with the higher law whereby wrong and
  	injustice are righted and exterminated. 
18	    Whatever weighs in the eternal scale of equity and
  	mercy tips the beam on the right side, where the immortal
  	words and deeds of men alone can settle all questions
21	amicably and satisfactorily. But if our nation's rights or
  	honor were seized, every citizen would be a soldier and
  	woman would be armed with power girt for the hour. 
 
                                                                 Miscellany                               278


1	    To coincide with God's government is the proper in-
  	centive to the action of all nations. If His purpose for
 3	peace is to be subserved by the battle's plan or by the
  	intervention of the United States, so that the Cubans
  	may learn to make war no more, this means and end
 6	will be accomplished. 
  	    The government of divine Love is supreme. Love rules
  	the universe, and its edict hath gone forth: "Thou shalt
 9	have no other gods before me," and "Love thy neighbor
  	as thyself." Let us have the molecule of faith that
  	removes mountains, — faith armed with the understand-
12	ing of Love, as in divine Science, where right reigneth. 
  	The revered President and Congress of our favored land
  	are in God's hands. 


15	[Boston Globe, December, 1904] 
  	HOW STRIFE MAY BE STILLED 

  	    Follow that which is good. 
18	    A Japanese may believe in a heaven for him who dies
  	in defence of his country, but the steadying, elevating
  	power of civilization destroys such illusions and should
21	overcome evil with good. 
  	    Nothing is gained by fighting, but much is lost. 
  	    Peace is the promise and reward of rightness. Gov-
24	ernments have no right to engraft into civilization the
  	burlesque of uncivil economics. War is in itself an evil,
  	barbarous, devilish. Victory in error is defeat in Truth. 
27	War is not in the domain of good; war weakens power
  	and must finally fall, pierced by its own sword. 
  	    The Principle of all power is God, and God is Love. 
30	Whatever brings into human thought or action an ele-
 
                                              The Prayer for Peace                        279


1	ment opposed to Love, is never requisite, never a neces-
  	sity, and is not sanctioned by the law of God, the law
 3	of Love. The Founder of Christianity said: "My
  	peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give
  	I unto you." 
 6	    Christian Science reinforces Christ's sayings and doings. 
  	The Principle of Christian Science demonstrates peace. 
  	Christianity is the chain of scientific being reappearing in
 9	all ages, maintaining its obvious correspondence with the
  	Scriptures and uniting all periods in the design of God. 
  	The First Commandment in the Hebrew Decalogue — 
12	"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" — obeyed,
  	is sufficient to still all strife. God is the divine Mind. 
  	Hence the sequence:  Had all peoples one Mind, peace
15	would reign. 
  	    God is Father, infinite, and this great truth, when
  	understood in its divine metaphysics, will establish the
18	brotherhood of man, end wars, and demonstrate "on
  	earth peace, good will toward men." 


  	                      [Christian Science Sentinel, June 17, 1905] 
21	                             THE PRAYER FOR PEACE 

  	    Dearly Beloved: — I request that every member of The
  	Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, pray each
24	day for the amicable settlement of the war between
  	Russia and Japan; and pray that God bless that great
  	nation and those islands of the sea with peace and
27	prosperity. 
  	                                                 MARY BAKER EDDY 
  	
        PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
30	                  June 13, 1905 

 
                                                                 Miscellany                                 280


1	 REV. MARY BAKER EDDY,
  	         Pleasant View, Concord, N. H. 

 3	    Beloved Leader: — We acknowledge with rejoicing the
  	receipt of your message, which again gives assurance of
  	your watchful care and guidance in our behalf and of your
 6	loving solicitude for the welfare of the nations and the
  	peaceful tranquillity of the race. We rejoice also in this
  	new reminder from you that all the things which make for
 9	the establishment of a universal, loving brotherhood on
  	earth may be accomplished through the righteous prayer
  	which availeth much. 

12	                                         William B. Johnson, Clerk 

  	BOSTON, MASS., JUNE 13, 1905 


  	               [Christian Science Sentinel, July 1, 1905]
 
15	"HEAR, O ISRAEL:  THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD" 

  	    I now request that the members of my church cease
  	special prayer for the peace of nations, and cease in full
18	faith that God does not hear our prayers only because of
  	oft speaking, but that He will bless all the inhabitants
  	of the earth, and none can stay His hand nor say unto
21	Him, What doest Thou? Out of His allness He must
  	bless all with His own truth and love. 

  	                                                  MARY BAKER EDDY

24	PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
  	                  June 27, 1905 


  	                      [Christian Science Sentinel, July 22, 1905] 
27	                                   AN EXPLANATION 

  	    In no way nor manner did I request my church to cease
  	praying for the peace of nations, but simply to pause in
30	special prayer for peace. And why this asking? Because
 
                                      Practise the Golden Rule                       281


 1	a spiritual foresight of the nations' drama presented
  	itself and awakened a wiser want, even to know how
 3	to pray other than the daily prayer of my church, — 
  	"Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it
  	is in heaven." 
 6	    I cited, as our present need, faith in God's disposal of
  	events. Faith full-fledged, soaring to the Horeb height,
  	brings blessings infinite, and the spirit of this orison is the
 9	fruit of rightness, — "on earth peace, good will toward
  	men." On this basis the brotherhood of all peoples is
  	established; namely, one God, one Mind, and "Love thy
12	neighbor as thyself," the basis on which and by which
  	the infinite God, good, the Father-Mother Love, is ours
  	and we are His in divine Science. 


15	                           [Boston Globe, August, 1905] 
  	                    PRACTISE  THE  GOLDEN  RULE 

  	                                            [Telegram] 

18	    "Official announcement of peace between Russia and
  	Japan seems to offer an appropriate occasion for the ex-
  	pression of congratulations and views by representative
21	persons.  Will you do us the kindness to wire a sentiment
  	on some phase of the subject, on the ending of the war,
  	the effect on the two parties to the treaty of Portsmouth,
24	the influence which President Roosevelt has exerted for
  	peace, or the advancement of the cause of arbitration." 


  	                                   Mrs. Eddy's Reply 

27	TO THE EDITOR OF THE Globe: 

  	    War will end when nations are ripe for progress. The
  	treaty of Portsmouth is not an executive power, although
 
                                                                 Miscellany                                 282


 1	its purpose is good will towards men. The government of
  	a nation is its peace maker or breaker. 
 3	    I believe strictly in the Monroe doctrine, in our Con-
  	stitution, and in the laws of God. While I admire the
  	faith and friendship of our chief executive in and for all
 6	nations, my hope must still rest in God, and the Scrip-
  	tural injunction, — "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all
  	the ends of the earth." 
 9	    The Douma recently adopted in Russia is no uncer-
  	tain ray of dawn. Through the wholesome chastise-
  	ments of Love, nations are helped onward towards
12	justice, righteousness, and peace, which are the land-
  	marks of prosperity. In order to apprehend more,
  	we must practise what we already know of the Golden
15	Rule, which is to all mankind a light emitting light. 

  	                                                 MARY BAKER EDDY


  	      MRS.  EDDY  AND  THE  PEACE  MOVEMENT 

18	MR. HAYNE DAVIS, American Secretary,
  	    International Conciliation Committee,
  	        542 Fifth Avenue, New York City 

21	    Dear Mr. Davis: — Deeply do I thank you for the
  	interest you manifest in the success of the Association
  	for International Conciliation. It is of paramount im-
24	portance to every son and daughter of all nations under
  	the sunlight of the law and gospel. 
  	    May God guide and prosper ever this good endeavor. 
27	                                      Most truly yours,

  	                                              MARY BAKER EDDY
  	
       PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
30	                    April 3, 1907 


 
                                    Appointment as Fondateur                      283


 1	MRS. EDDY'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF APPOINTMENT
  	          AS FONDATEUR OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR
 3	                      INTERNATIONAL CONCILIATION 

  	FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, NEW YORK CITY
  	      MR. JOHN D. HIGGINS, Clerk 

 6	    My Beloved Brethren: — Your appointment of me as
  	Fondateur of the Association for International Concilia-
  	tion is most gracious. 
 9	    To aid in this holy purpose is the leading impetus of
  	my life. Many years have I prayed and labored for the
  	consummation of "on earth peace, good will toward
12	men." May the fruits of said grand Association, preg-
  	nant with peace, find their birthright in divine Science. 
  	    Right thoughts and deeds are the sovereign remedies
15	for all earth's woe. Sin is its own enemy. Right has its
  	recompense, even though it be betrayed. Wrong may be
  	a man's highest idea of right until his grasp of goodness
18	grows stronger. It is always safe to be just. 
  	    When pride, self, and human reason reign, injustice is
  	rampant. 
21	    Individuals, as nations, unite harmoniously on the basis
  	of justice, and this is accomplished when self is lost in
  	Love — or God's own plan of salvation. "To do justly,
24	and to love mercy, and to walk humbly" is the stand-
  	ard of Christian Science. 
  	    Human law is right only as it patterns the divine. 
27	Consolation and peace are based on the enlightened sense
  	of God's government. 
  	    Lured by fame, pride, or gold, success is danger-
30	ous, but the choice of folly never fastens on the good
 
                                                                 Miscellany                                 284


 1	or the great. Because of my rediscovery of Chris-
  	tian Science, and honest efforts (however meagre)
 3	to help human purpose and peoples, you may have
  	accorded me more than is deserved, — but 'tis sweet
  	to be remembered. 
 6	                                         Lovingly yours,

  	                                                 MARY BAKER EDDY 
  	
       PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
 9	                   April 22, 1907 


  	                                [Concord (N. H.) Daily Patriot] 
  	                                         A CORRECTION 

12	    Dear Editor: — In the issue of your good paper, the
  	Patriot, May 21, when referring to the Memorial service
  	of the E. E. Sturtevant Post held in my church building,
15	it read, "It is said to be the first time in the history of
  	the church in this country that such an event has oc-
  	curred." In your next issue please correct this mistake. 
18	Since my residence in Concord, 1889, the aforesaid
  	Memorial service has been held annually in some church
  	in Concord, N. H. 
21	    When the Veterans indicated their desire to assemble
  	in my church building, I consented thereto only as other
  	churches had done. But here let me say that I am
24	absolutely and religiously opposed to war, whereas I do
  	believe implicitly in the full efficacy of divine Love to
  	conciliate by arbitration all quarrels between nations
27	and peoples. 
  	                                                 MARY BAKER EDDY
  	
       PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
30	                  May 28, 1907 


 
                                                            To a Student                              285


 1	                                        TO A STUDENT 

  	    Dear Student: — Please accept my thanks for your
 3	kind invitation, on behalf of the Civic League of San
  	Francisco, to attend the Industrial Peace Conference,
  	and accept my hearty congratulations. 
 6	    I cannot spare the time requisite to meet with you;
  	but I rejoice with you in all your wise endeavors for
  	industrial, civic, and national peace. Whatever adorns
 9	Christianity crowns the great purposes of life and demon-
  	strates the Science of being. Bloodshed, war, and op-
  	pression belong to the darker ages, and shall be relegated
12	to oblivion. 
  	    It is a matter for rejoicing that the best, bravest, most
  	cultured men and women of this period unite with us in
15	the grand object embodied in the Association for Inter-
  	national Conciliation. 
  	    In Revelation 2 : 26, St. John says: "And he that
18	overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to
  	him will I give power over the nations." In the words
  	of St. Paul, I repeat: —  
21	    "And they neither found me in the temple disputing
  	with any man, neither raising up the people, neither
  	in the synagogues, nor in the city:  neither can they
24	prove the things whereof they now accuse me.  But
  	this I confess unto thee, that after the way which
  	they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers,
27	believing all things which are written in the law and in
  	the prophets." 
  	                                   Most sincerely yours,
30	                                                    MARY BAKER EDDY
  	PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H. 

 
                                                                 Miscellany                                 286


1	                 [The Christian Science Journal, May, 1908] 

  	                                                   WAR 

 3	    For many years I have prayed daily that there be
  	no more war, no more barbarous slaughtering of our
  	fellow-beings; prayed that all the peoples on earth and
 6	the islands of the sea have one God, one Mind; love
  	God supremely, and love their neighbor as themselves. 
  	    National disagreements can be, and should be, arbi-
 9	trated wisely, fairly; and fully settled. 
  	    It is unquestionable, however, that at this hour
  	the armament of navies is necessary, for the purpose
12	of preventing war and preserving peace among nations.SHOW ALL