Chapter 15 — Peace and War
From Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy
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- Other Ways than by War
- How Strife May Be Stilled
- The Prayer for Peace
- “Hear, O Israel: The Lord Our God Is One Lord”
- An Explanation
- Practise the Golden Rule
- Mrs. Eddy and the Peace Movement
- Acknowledgment of Appointment as Fondateur
- A Correction
- To a Student
- War
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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.
Page 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-
Page 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]
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.,
June 13, 1905
Page 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]
“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]
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
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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
Page 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
Page 283
MRS. EDDY’S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF APPOINTMENT
AS FONDATEUR OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR
3 INTERNATIONAL CONCILIATION
FIRST CHURCH OP 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
Page 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
Page 285
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.
Page 286
[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.
