Chapter III - Marriage
Superior law of Soul
63:1
the superior law of Soul last. You would never think
the superior law of Soul last. You would never think
that flannel was better for warding off pulmonary disease
than the controlling Mind, if you understood the Science
of being.
Spiritual origin
63:5
In Science man is the offspring of Spirit. The beauti-
In Science man is the offspring of Spirit. The beauti-
ful, good, and pure constitute his ancestry. His origin is
not, like that of mortals, in brute instinct, nor
does he pass through material conditions prior
to reaching intelligence. Spirit is his primitive and ulti-
mate source of being; God is his Father, and Life is the
law of his being.
The rights of woman
63:12
Civil law establishes very unfair differences between the
Civil law establishes very unfair differences between the
rights of the two sexes. Christian Science furnishes no
precedent for such injustice, and civilization
mitigates it in some measure. Still, it is a
marvel why usage should accord woman less rights than
does either Christian Science or civilization.
Unfair discrimination
63:18
Our laws are not impartial, to say the least, in their
Our laws are not impartial, to say the least, in their
discrimination as to the person, property, and parental
claims of the two sexes. If the elective fran-
chise for women will remedy the evil with-
out encouraging difficulties of greater magnitude, let us
hope it will be granted. A feasible as well as rational
means of improvement at present is the elevation of
society in general and the achievement of a nobler
race for legislation, – a race having higher aims and
motives.
63:28
If a dissolute husband deserts his wife, certainly the
If a dissolute husband deserts his wife, certainly the
wronged, and perchance impoverished, woman should be
allowed to collect her own wages, enter into business
agreements, hold real estate, deposit funds, and own her
children free from interference.
64:1
Want of uniform justice is a crying evil caused by the
Want of uniform justice is a crying evil caused by the
selfishness and inhumanity of man. Our forefathers
exercised their faith in the direction taught by the Apostle
James, when he said: "Pure religion and undefiled before
God and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and
widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world."
Benevolence hindered
64:8
Pride, envy, or jealousy seems on most occasions to
Pride, envy, or jealousy seems on most occasions to
be the master of ceremonies, ruling out primitive Chris-
tianity. When a man lends a helping hand
to some noble woman, struggling alone with
adversity, his wife should not say, "It is never well to
interfere with your neighbor's business." A wife is
sometimes debarred by a covetous domestic tyrant from
giving the ready aid her sympathy and charity would
afford.
Progressive development
64:17
Marriage should signify a union of hearts. Further-
Marriage should signify a union of hearts. Further-
more, the time cometh of which Jesus spake, when he
declared that in the resurrection there should
be no more marrying nor giving in marriage,
but man would be as the angels. Then shall Soul re-
joice in its own, in which passion has no part. Then
white-robed purity will unite in one person masculine wis-
dom and feminine love, spiritual understanding and per-
petual peace.
64:26
Until it is learned that God is the Father of all, mar-
Until it is learned that God is the Father of all, mar-
riage will continue. Let not mortals permit a disregard
of law which might lead to a worse state of society than
now exists. Honesty and virtue ensure the stability of
the marriage covenant. Spirit will ultimately claim its
own, – all that really is, – and the voices of physical
sense will be forever hushed.