Article April 20, 1912 Issue

In a recent issue of the News it was stated that a clergyman...

De Witt McMurray

Dallas (Texas) News

In a recent issue of the News it was stated that a clergyman addressed the Physicians' Lunch Club, "declaring that physicians and ministers must get together in a campaign to check the growth of Christian Science." It was further stated that the speaker, after being introduced, "immediately took up the subject of Christian Science, declaring that it had steadily gained adherents for the reasons,—because it has mystery and is hard to enter, like a secret society; in that four years of study are required; because there are many people who are looking for some means of cure and, knowing no other, embrace new theories; and because the Christian Scientists have conducted a steadily aggressive and intelligently appealing campaign. He said the physicians and ministers must use similar methods and give the people more general knowledge along the lines of taking care of themselves." It will be noted that nowhere is it stated that this gentleman gave a reason why "physicians and ministers must get together in a campaign to check the growth of Christian Science." We would direct the attention of this critic and the physicians to the reply of Gamaliel: "Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it." The Master said, "The tree is known by his fruit;" and Christian Scientists are perfectly willing that this standard be used in judging them and their works.

Christian Science is not simply a method of healing disease, but a religion. The healing of the sick is incidental, in that it is brought about by prayer and right living. If it be true, it cannot be destroyed; if it be not true, it will destroy itself. Religion is a personal matter between a man and his God. Certainly no one would want another who conscientiously believes a thing to stultify himself by hypocritically professing to believe another. We feel sure that the critic does not believe in the infallibility of human judgment, and this being true, is it not possible that he is wrong and the other man right,—just as possible as that he is right and the other man wrong?

The tenets of Christian Science are to be found only in the text-book of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, which may be read of all men. This information is offered because in stating that "four years of study are required" before one can join a Christian Science church, the speaker made a very incorrect statement. The same is true of his statement that it "has mystery and is hard to enter, like a secret society." There is no mystery about Christian Science unless the statements contained in the Bible and in its text-book are mysterious, as all there is of the teachings of Christian Science is contained in these books. Certainly it cannot be very mysterious, since children read, understand, and apply the teachings of Christian Science when occasion demands.

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