Article December 4, 1902 Issue

Judge Fair Judgment

Albert E. Miller

The Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot

In dwelling on one or two recent failures, the great success which Christian Science has achieved in healing the sick should not be overlooked. Thousands of people are in the world to-day who were given up to die by physicians, and afterwards healed by Christian Science. That a few failures should occur among the many successful demonstrations which attend this teaching, is not to be wondered at when we remember that even the disciples of Jesus—those who stood closest to him—were not always successful in their efforts to restore the sick to perfect health. To the ordinary observer, it is evident that Christian Science must teach sound doctrine. Its advocates are recruited largely from the ranks of those who have had the best medical care at their command, and the records of church membership in this denomination show that two-thirds of its people were in good standing in other evangelical churches before adopting Christian Science as their religious belief.

I must dispute the assertion that Christian Scientists are "ignorant and untrained." It should not be assumed that the Scientist enters practice without preparation. His line of study may differ from that pursued by a student in materia medica, but the standard of efficiency is none the less high and, in addition, the Christian Scientist must needs have "clean hands and a pure heart" to bring to the suffering ones that knowledge of God's love and care which is needed to restore the sick and raise the fallen.

If prayer is not to be classed among remedial agencies, the teachings of the Bible on this point will have to be rejected. Interwoven with the teaching of both Old and New Testaments, we find the doctrine that prayer is the most effectual remedy for human want and woe. The Scripture abounds with verse and narrative wherein is set forth the necessity of appealing to the most High when in sickness or sorrow.

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