More about the Remarkable Case

In The Christian Science Journal for September, 1901, we published a testimony from Mrs. Jay Scott, Fresno, Cal. In the Sentinel of November 7, 1901, we republished Mrs. Scott's testimony together with a letter from her in corroboration thereof, containing additional data. It seems that further letters of inquiry, and some of incredulity, have been written to Mrs. Scott, and also to some of those who witnessed what transpired in her case. It is not strange that the circumstances of this case should tax the credulity of any who measure things from the standpoint of the material senses or human wisdom. It is only when one rises above these and is led to accept the supremacy and power of Spirit, that one can lay aside doubt and questioning. The case before us is so well authenticated that even the doubting are driven to one of two positions; namely, that the result was accomplished either through human agency or through Divine power. Those who are disposed to attribute it to human agency are not only doubting but denying Divine power or, at least, endeavoring to place limitations on that power; yet those who believe in God at all, admit His power to be supreme and unlimited. Let the incredulous make their own choice. Christian Scientists, meanwhile, abide confidently and securely in the deep conviction, which to them amounts to knowledge, that although the work accomplished in this case seemed to have been wrought through human agency, it nevertheless was God who worked "to will and to do of his good pleasure."

After all, is there anything more mysterious or incomprehensible about this case than there is about myriads of facts coming within the range of human knowledge and experience? The same limited intelligence that would deny the possibility of such an achievement as we are considering might, with as much consistency, deny any other fact in connection with this mortal existence. How many facts pertaining to mortal birth and life can this intelligence explain? It cannot explain its own existence nor account for it. It cannot explain nor account for the existence of a single animate or inanimate thing. It cannot trace a single tree to its primal origin or determine which was first, the tree, or the seed whence sprang the tree; nor can it determine when the first tree or the first seed came into existence. It cannot trace the grain of sand to its original source. It cannot truly analyze or account for a single blade of grass. It cannot determine from any method of analysis within its grasp which was first, the apple or the seed within the apple. It can tell us nothing of the origin of the first man or the first woman nor when nor by whom sex was determined. It cannot explain by what mysterious process the same grass growing in the same field will support the life at once of a horse, a cow, a pig, and a goose, producing in the one case one kind of flesh and hair, which we denominate horse-flesh and horse-hair, another kind of flesh which we denominate beef and the hair of the bovine animal, in another the flesh which is called pork, with the peculiar kind of hair manifested by that kind of animal, and in another the flesh which is called goose-flesh, with the feathers peculiar to that fowl. From the limited intelligence of the human mind, these are mysteries, or miracles, if you please, and yet these are the simplest illustrations which we are able now to call to mind.

We might call upon this same intelligence, which arrogates to itself the capacity to judge of Divine power or place limitations upon it, to explain what power it is which holds this earth out in space and causes it to perform its marvelous functions. There is certainly nothing perceptible to the material senses which holds it there. Then we might extend a relative inquiry out into the realm of illimitable space and call for an answer as to the first ten million worlds or planets which are said to make up the stellar universe, and then we might multiply this number ten million times ten million, and continue multiplying in the same ratio until we had passed out of the scope of mathematical calculation, calling upon the intelligence of which we are speaking to tell us what supports these countless worlds, what created them originally, and what determines their characteristics and actions. We might ask numerous questions relative to the mysteries and possibilities of electricity, and whence came the knowledge or intelligence which has brought to view all the wonderful inventions of the past decade, but we have said enough to indicate that it is our view, at least, that all mystery or marvelousness surrounding the case of Mrs. Scott's healing is comparatively small. One who quibbles about the possibility or impossibility of her case may as well extend his quibbling out into the various channels to which we have thus roughly referred. We may add that in view of the inexplicable conditions in which we live, mortally speaking, we are not able to agree with those who maintain that "the days of miracles have passed." If that which we do not understand is miraculous, we are surrounded with mystery.

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Among the Churches
November 28, 1901
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