Article April 27, 1899 Issue

Dr. Munhall and Christian Science

Edgar M. Zavitz

The writer of the following, which appeared in the London (Canada) Advertiser, is the editor of the Young Friends Review, and was chosen to represent the "Society of Friends" or "Quakers" at the World's Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893.

To the Editor of the Advertiser :—

I was interested and amused at Dr. Munhall's "warning against Christian Science," as reported in the Advertiser of March 15. The doctor's tirade very forcibly reminds me of the Psalmist's query, "Why do the heathen rage?" Truth never did need the tones of thunder and the words of wrath, to uphold it. It ever prefers the sweet thoughts of charity, uttered in the spirit of love. He that rages, according to the Bible test, is the heathen. I wish it to be distinctly understood, out of regard for the Christian Scientists, that the writer of this is not a Christian Scientist. He attended, through invitation of a friend, the recent lecture of Carol Norton in this city, which, I presume, called forth Mr. Munhall's denunciation. I endeavored to possess my mind free from both the over-zealousness of a devotee, and the prejudice of a despiser. It is only when in that condition that the judgment can weigh correctly, and the truth be seen clearly, and such false accusations as appear in the doctor's address be evaded. We need only to refer to his characterization of the "votaries of this cult" to see how wide the doctor shoots from the mark. They are, he says, largely made up either of the "unsaved people," or possessed with "an inordinate vanity," or "know but little of the real truths of God's word." I had the pleasurable experience of meeting and mingling socially and religiously with the greater number of "this cult" in London at the time of Carol Norton's lecture, and while I do not pronounce here upon the philosophy of their system, I can state that there was manifested throughout, I will not say a Christian spirit—that would wrong them—but the Christlike spirit, and a more intelligent, sensible, and conscientious body of people is hard to be found.

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