Article October 26, 1899 Issue

Defence of Christian Science

F. M.

Cincinnati Commercial Tribune

To the Editor of the Commercial Tribune:— Will you kindly allow space through your columns to make mention of some mistakes, as it would clearly seem, that appeared in the recent trial of those persons known as Christian Scientists, who were arrested for the so-called illegal practice of healing the sick in our midst, the correction of which might possibly result in quite another termination and verdict? The charge is the violation of the Mosgrove bill, that has for its object, ostensibly, the protection of the community and state at large against healers of the sick by quackery, fraud, ignorance, or otherwise, by those unlicensed or unqualified who use material aids or other agencies. It is not intended here to give the specific letter, but, as I understand it, this is the substance of the statute. The Mosgrove bill aims at the healer, and deals directly with those who profess to heal the sick by any agency whatever who do not conform to the prescribed methods of the State Medical Board. This bill, then, includes all schools of allopathy, homoeopathy, hydropathy, electricity, eclectic, osteopathy, hypnotism, mesmerism, massage, all applications of liniments, salves, glycerin, all applications of water, cold or hot, all bandages and every other known appliance, local or foreign, that is employed to bring case to disease. This Mosgrove bill may send out its searchlight upon every conceivable school of healing and upon individual efforts, and bring under its ban the non-conformist; but, according to my judgment, neither in its letter nor spirit nor in its most subtle essence can it touch the Christian Scientist.

We plead guilty to the fact that a vast amount of healing has been and is now being accomplished; that almost every known disease has been met and mastered. In a million of cases given up by all other schools as incurable, Christian Science has been able to score a glorious triumph. But the Christian Scientist is not the healer in any sense implied by that term. I disclaim it. To call a Scientist a healer is a misnomer. It is wholly a mistake.

Is the mathematical principle included in numbers? Certainly not. The principle simply works through numbers and so governs the problem correctly to which it is applied. It is so in Christian Science, which is founded on the eternal Principle, on Infinite Mind that governs all and upholds all by the universal law of harmony. In this Mind, or God, health is the everlasting fact, and it has been proved conclusively within the last quarter of a century that this ever-operative divine Principle of love, peace, and good will to the race, when understandingly applied to disease, of whatever type or virulence, at whatever stage or continuity, heals with irresistable power and certainty. God alone is the physician and healer in every case, be it toothache or cancer, rheumatism or leprosy, crime, insanity, or consumption. The Scientist is not the healer. What part has the Scientist, then, in the work? The part that the pane of glass has that admits light into our homes, or the part that numbers have through which the mathematical principle is expressed. This fact is recognized by all schools of theology, else why do ministers preach and people assemble to hear? We admit that a careful and persistent fitness is required for the high and holy work of Christian Science. As the window pane must be kept clear and transparent to transmit the greater light, and as numbers must be accurate to express mathematics, so must the life of the Christian Scientist come into harmony with Principle, God. This life must be kept pure and transparent; it must be meek and humble; it must be poised in the understanding of its relation to God, that light and blessing may be radiated upon itself and upon all with whom it comes in contact. The Scientist is but an instrument, to direct the Truth-seeker to the source of health and harmony. He is a channel for the accomplishment of God's will and God's works. Jesus himself said, "I can of mine own self do nothing, . . . but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

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