Article July 20, 1899 Issue

Unkindness in the Pulpit

THE wise advice of Gamaliel to his brethern to let the Christian alone, was approved by the other Pharisees and it has been unanimously applauded for nearly nineteen centuries by theologians of all schools, but some of them depart from wisdom occasionally and bitterly attack Christian Science.

Gamaliel said—referring to Peter and the other apostles—"Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." Ministers of other churches proclaim that their doctrines are true. If their doctrines be true, they surely need not defend them by means of vituperative abuse of Christian Science or of any other doctrine which may to them seem false, for it is a truism that Truth cannot be overthrown by error, and therefore the doctrines held by other churches are in no danger from Christian Science unless they are false, and Christian Science is true.

It would seem that if such ministers have any vital message to preach, any message that is true and that is needed by a sick and sinful world, they should be too busy preaching it to have any time for abusing Christian Scientists, especially when it is a matter of common knowledge that Christian Scientists do not make any effort to gain proselytes in other churches, but strictly mind their own business. It is also a fact of such general knowledge that it is difficult to understand how ministers could fail to be aware of it, that Christian Science has accomplished a vast amount of good in the world, reforming many sinners and healing many sick people, whom, in the one case the older churches had failed to reach; and in the other, the doctors could not cure.

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