Article September 27, 1900 Issue

In Reply to Critics

Lloyd B. Coate

Springfield (O.) Daily Press

Editor of the Springfield Daily Press:— Will you kindly permit me to reply to the remarks of Rev. S. O. Royal and Dr. C. W. Barnes made at the Urbana Camp Meeting as reported in your Sunday morning issue. It would appear that Christian Science is classed with Dowieism and Spiritualism. Had Christian Science been more carefully studied, these ministers would never have stated that it is allied to Dowieism, or that it is associated with Spiritualism. To thus class it shows a lack of understanding of the subject of Christian Science.

As in mathematics, so in Christian Science, one must understand, and the proof that one does understand Christian Science is that he can heal the sick in accord with its teachings, and unless this demonstration can be brought out at least in a small degree it cannot be intelligently discussed, and it would show greater wisdom to leave the subject untouched. When a course is pursued otherwise an exposure of ignorance is made.

A careful perusal of the twelfth chapter of Matthew shows that Jesus proved the practicability of his teaching by healing the sick, that this practice greatly incensed the Pharisees, and that after seeing instance after instance of healing, they accused him of doing his work "by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." Then they said to him. "Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them. An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign." The life of Jesus Christ was one constant manifestation of goodness and this was manifest in what he commanded his disciples to do, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." Among the last words uttered by our Master as recorded by Mark he stated that when his gospel was preached as he taught it, "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

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