Watching Point 452

452 — WATCH lest you hesitate to use the absolute Truth when you should, since so much stress is laid on the necessity for detecting and handling the claim of evil. Mrs. Eddy once said, “Meet every false claim with the absolute Truth; nothing short of that will answer. John 8:32.”

In 1878 Mrs. Eddy startled an association meeting with the absolute statement: “I am infallible now.” There were about ten members present, and she made this statement in answer to the query, “Should we say, or can we truthfully say, we as individuals are perfect, pure, holy, or infallible now?”

Mrs. Eddy’s strong stand had the effect of instantaneously healing some who were present. It chemicalized some. The one who asked the question was so wrought up that he coldly left the meeting. Some said they felt worse, which Mrs. Eddy declared was as good as if they felt better.

In the midst of the storm produced by Mrs. Eddy’s assertion, she kindly said, “I have told the truth.” She took the absolute stand as God guided her to, and to this day the strength of that truth, and of her faith in it can be felt, and always will be.