Editor's Table ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD          How often do we hear the doubt expressed that some greatly needed reform cannot be established because its representatives are few in number and also lacking in the means usually considered essential to worldly success. People seem to forget that every marked advance in human history has resulted from the clear vision of someone who has dared to stand for a great idea in the face of the doubt or opposition of the whole world. This one has been able to awaken and inspire a few, and erelong the many were compelled to heed if not to follow, proving the power of a right idea and demonstrating the truth of the oft-quoted saying, "One on God's side is a majority."          In the spiritual advance of humanity we find Abraham as the first to mark a distinct departure from material belief and worship. His recognition of divine Truth caused him to leave home and kindred, but it made him "the friend of God" and the friend of humanity, for the promise was that in him should all the families of the earth be blessed. This was no less true of Moses, who at more than one stage of his career seemed to be but the leader of a forlorn hope. He, however, "endured, as seeing him who is invisible;" and, like all the faithful, kept the faith. No great reformer could ever succeed were he to be influenced by the number of those opposed to him and the fewness of those ready to follow him till the goal is reached.          At the crucial hour of Jesus' earthly career John alone of all the disciples stood by the cross to witness what seemed the failure of the most heroic attempt to uplift humanity that the world had ever witnessed, but later John saw in spiritual vision a multitude which no man could number, "of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues," those who had seen the Christ-idea and had followed it to the final and inevitable triumph of Truth over sin, disease, and death. Because divine Principle is eternal and unchangeable, it follows that those who thus know God and are at work to express the divine idea, whether it be in the arena of personal experience or in the affairs of nations, are always in the majority, for every divine idea in the universe is on their side. As to the seeming forces of evil, our revered Leader says, "The very heavens shall laugh at them, and move majestically to your defense when the armies of earth press hard upon you" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 338).          At this hour everything in the affairs of men shows unmistakably that one of the most eventful scenes in the great drama of human redemption is upon the world's stage. The great Teacher foretold such experiences as we are now passing through, but he gave great and strong assurances to the faithful, saying, "There shall not an hair of your head perish." As we read his words we thank our heavenly Father that He has in our day called and anointed one to lead us in the way marked out by Christ Jesus, but forgotten by his professed followers till our revered Leader demonstrated to us that it is our privilege to walk in this way and to find heaven here and now. Great as was her task, she did not falter, but pressed on, — Catching gleams of heavenly spires, Hearing notes from angel choirs, — and when unexpected difficulties came up, she but found new opportunities to give her followers, whether few or many, new and clearer views of Truth's majesty and might. Apostrophizing the glories of ancient Greece, a poet has said, — Of the three hundred grant but three To make a new Thermopylae.          Mrs. Eddy says, "You may know when first Truth leads by the fewness and faithfulness of its followers" (Science and Health, p. 225) . The question for each one is not how many others are following the standard of Truth, but how faithful he himself is. If one is faithful to all the demands of divine Principle, he is serving all mankind, present and future, as did the Master, and he may be doing more to right human wrongs than thousands on the battlefield or hundreds in legislative halls. We know that all error must come to an end. How near that end is, depends upon the faithfulness of each one. God will not fail us, "for he is faithful that promised."   Editorial by Annie M. Knott, CSD The Christian Science Journal, November, 1908

 

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