Article October 23, 1902 Issue

Who is the Best Interpreter?

Alfred Farlow

Boston Ideas

Mental training in any legitimate line increases one 's ability to understand, and, everything else being equal, a scholar should be more ready to perceive the beauties of Christian Science than an ignoramus; but it is oftentimes true that bigotry and self-conceit accompany what is commonly called knowledge, and thus prevent the reception of new ideas. Those who are well satisfied with lesser theories than Christian Science are not apt to be favorably impressed with it. St. Paul had this in mind when he said, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, etc. Our Master also declared, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."

The Christian Science text-book expounds Christian Science in a sufficiently clear manner to heal thousands who have never had any other teacher than the book itself. Let those who pretend to think it verbose produce a philosophy that has accomplished more for the world than the teaching of Science and Health. Do they propose to take away from the people that which has accomplished so much good, and give nothing in its place? Are they willing to allow that one who has never demonstrated a proposition in mathematics, though he may be able to repeat the rules accurately, is a safe teacher of mathematics? Would not such a teacher be like clouds without rain? Do critics advocate that our schools be equipped with teachers who have never had any practical experience, teachers of mathematics who have never solved a problem ? The difficulty is, some are not willing to admit that Christian Science is indeed a science and therefore are not willing to treat it as such. We insist that even in "chemistry" only those who have had practical experience are safe teachers and the teacher who has Tiad had most experience is the best qualified to teach.

Alfred Farlow.
In Boston Ideas.

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